Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

सर्वदेवमये ग्रासं मया दत्तमिमं ग्रस । सर्वदेवमये देवि सर्वदेवैरलंकृते ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

sarvadevamaye grāsaṃ mayā dattamimaṃ grasa | sarvadevamaye devi sarvadevairalaṃkṛte || 33 ||

Translation

O Devi, die alle Götter in sich birgt, von allen Gottheiten geschmückt—nimm diesen Bissen, den ich dargebracht habe, zu Dir; denn auch dieser Bissen ist erfüllt von der Gegenwart aller Götter.

Word by Word

• सर्व-देव-मये: O embodiment of all deities
• सर्व-देव-मये: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• ग्रासम्: a mouthful/bolus (of food)
• ग्रासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by me’

• दत्तम्: given/offered
• दत्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with इमम्/ग्रासम्

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; demonstrative (qualifies ग्रासम्)

• ग्रस: eat/swallow
• ग्रस: आज्ञार्थक-क्रिया (Imperative predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘eat/swallow!’

• सर्व-देव-मये: O embodiment of all deities
• सर्व-देव-मये: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular (repeated)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• सर्व-देवैः: by all the gods
• सर्व-देवैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• अलंकृते: O adorned (one)
• अलंकृते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम् + कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Speaker

Narada (contextual attribution; typical Narada Purana dialogue flow with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Sarvadeva (all gods)

FAQs

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

It sacralizes the act of feeding/offerings by declaring both the recipient (Devi) and the offered morsel as “sarvadevamaya,” i.e., a locus where all deities are honored together—turning a simple act into comprehensive worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent offering: seeing the Divine present in the recipient and in the offering itself. This devotional vision (bhāva) makes the act of giving food a form of worship and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smārta-ācāra): the verse reflects the principle of devatā-nyāsa/bhāvanā in offerings—mentally consecrating a food portion as deity-filled before giving or feeding.