Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

सिंदूरालिप्तश्रृङ्गाणां चित्राङ्गाणां च वर्णकैः । गवां कोलाहले वृत्ते नीराजनमहोत्सवे ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

siṃdūrāliptaśrṛṅgāṇāṃ citrāṅgāṇāṃ ca varṇakaiḥ | gavāṃ kolāhale vṛtte nīrājanamahotsave || 44 ||

Translation

Beim großen Fest der nīrājana (dem rituellen Schwenken der Lichter), als das Vieh in freudigem Aufruhr lärmte—die einen mit Hörnern, mit roter Sindūra bestrichen, die anderen mit bunt bemalten Leibern—erhob sich ringsum ein festlicher Tumult.

Word by Word

• सिन्दूर-आलिप्त-शृङ्गाणाम्: of (cows) whose horns are smeared with vermilion
• सिन्दूर-आलिप्त-शृङ्गाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + आलिप्त (कृदन्त; √लिप् (धातु)) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आलिप्तानि शृङ्गाणि येषाम्)

• चित्र-अङ्गाणाम्: of (cows) with variegated limbs
• चित्र-अङ्गाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (चित्राणि अङ्गानि)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्णकैः: with paints/colors
• वर्णकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कोलाहले: in the clamour
• कोलाहले: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• वृत्ते: having arisen/occurred
• वृत्ते: अधिकरण (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त (कृदन्त; √वृत् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• नीराजन-महोत्सवे: at the great festival of nīrājana (waving of lights)
• नीराजन-महोत्सवे: अधिकरण (Location/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक) + महोत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नीराजनस्य महोत्सवः)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana’s sequence in an anukramanika-style passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gavah (cattle)

FAQs

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

It highlights śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious markers) of a sacred celebration: decorating living beings (especially cows) and performing nīrājana symbolizes reverence, protection, and the invocation of auspiciousness in dharmic community life.

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

Bhakti here appears as pūjā-bhāva expressed through public worship—nīrājana, festive adornment, and honoring cows—showing devotion not only as inner feeling but as visible service (sevā) and celebration of the sacred.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented application) is implied: the nīrājana act, auspicious adornment, and festival procedure reflect applied śrauta/smārta ritual culture rather than grammar or astrology in this specific verse.