Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र वत्सयुतां गां तु समालिख्य सुगंधिभिः । चंदनाद्यैस्तथा पुष्पमालाभिः प्रार्च्य ताम्रके ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tatra vatsayutāṃ gāṃ tu samālikhya sugaṃdhibhiḥ | caṃdanādyaistathā puṣpamālābhiḥ prārcya tāmrake || 28 ||

Translation

Dort soll man eine Kuh zusammen mit ihrem Kalb zeichnen und sie dann auf einem Kupfergefäß verehren, mit duftenden Substanzen wie Sandelholz und dergleichen sowie mit Blumengirlanden.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• वत्सयुताम्: accompanied by a calf
• वत्सयुताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘वत्सेन युता’ = accompanied by a calf; qualifying गाम्

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

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

• समालिख्य: having drawn/depicted
• समालिख्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) [upasarga: सम्- + आ-]
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having drawn/inscribed’; with prefixes सम्-आ-

• सुगन्धिभिः: with fragrant substances
• सुगन्धिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) (also used as adj.), Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• चन्दनाद्यैः: with sandalwood and the like
• चन्दनाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘चन्दनम् आदि येषाम्’ = sandalwood etc.

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (निपात) meaning ‘thus/also’

• पुष्पमालाभिः: with flower garlands
• पुष्पमालाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘पुष्पाणां माला’ = garlands of flowers

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) [upasarga: प्र-]
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’; with prefix प्र-

• ताम्रके: in a copper vessel/plate
• ताम्रके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in/on a copper vessel/plate’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure in dialogue tradition; commonly transmitted via Suta)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Govatsa-Dvādaśī-vrata (procedure detail)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gau (Cow)
• Vatsa (Calf)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes reverential worship through sacred symbolism: depicting the cow-with-calf and honoring it with purity items (fragrance, sandalwood, garlands) reflects dharma, auspiciousness, and gratitude toward life-sustaining forces.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive upacāra (devotional offerings): creating a respectful sacred form and worshipping it with pleasing, pure substances trains the mind toward reverence and disciplined devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/vidhi) is implicit: the verse gives procedural steps—iconic depiction, proper material (tāmraka/copper), and prescribed offerings (candana, sugandha, puṣpamālā)—typical of vrata and pūjā manuals.