Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यामिषशुक्लायां पद्मनाभं समर्चयेत् । गंधाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु तदग्रे भोजयेद्द्विजान् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāmiṣaśuklāyāṃ padmanābhaṃ samarcayet | gaṃdhādyairupacāraistu tadagre bhojayeddvijān || 25 ||

Translation

Am Dvādaśī-Tag in der hellen Monatshälfte (Śukla-pakṣa) soll man Padmanābha (Viṣṇu) in voller Ehrfurcht verehren; und mit Darbringungen wie Duftstoffen und anderen rituellen Diensten soll man danach die Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) in Seiner Gegenwart speisen.

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अमिषशुक्लायाम्: (called) Amiṣa-śuklā (a named Dvādaśī)
• अमिषशुक्लायाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमिष (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Karmadhāraya: ‘अमिषेण शुक्ला’ = ‘white due to meat/fish (name of a tithi/occasion)’ qualifying द्वादश्याम्

• पद्मनाभम्: Padmanābha (Vishnu)
• पद्मनाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship properly
• समर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) [upasarga: सम्-]
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); with prefix सम्

• गन्धाद्यैः: with fragrances and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa: ‘गन्धः आदिः येषाम्’ (elliptic) = ‘with perfumes etc.’

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तु: and/then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• तत्: there/that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; adverbial with अग्रे

• अग्रे: in front/before
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya adverb: ‘in front/before’

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [Causative/णिच्: भोजय-]
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• द्विजान्: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī observance (associated with Viṣṇu worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Padmanabha
• Vishnu
• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It links devotion to Viṣṇu (Padmanābha) with dharmic hospitality—worship followed by feeding brāhmaṇas in the deity’s presence—showing that pūjā is fulfilled through reverent service and charitable nourishment.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is expressed as upacāra-sevā (loving ritual attendance) to Padmanābha and as honoring His devotees/representatives (dvijas) through bhojana, making devotion both inward (worship) and outward (service).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and basic calendrical discipline are implied: observing the tithi (Dvādaśī) in Śukla-pakṣa and performing prescribed upacāras and dvija-bhojana as part of a vrata/pujā sequence.