Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

मधुरान्नैः सुसत्कृत्य प्रत्येकं चार्पयेद्व्रती । एव व्रतं नरः कृत्वा द्वादशादित्यसंज्ञकम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

madhurānnaiḥ susatkṛtya pratyekaṃ cārpayedvratī | eva vrataṃ naraḥ kṛtvā dvādaśādityasaṃjñakam || 58 ||

Translation

Nachdem er sie mit süßen Speisen ehrerbietig bewirtet hat, soll der Gelübdeübende jedem einzeln darbringen. So wird, wenn ein Mensch dieses Gelübde vollzieht, es das „Gelübde der Zwölf Ādityas“ genannt.

Word by Word

• मधुर-अन्नैः: with sweet foods
• मधुर-अन्नैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (मधुरम् अन्नम्)

• सु-सत्कृत्य: having duly honored
• सु-सत्कृत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सत्कृ (धातु) + सु (उपसर्ग/उपपद)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having honored well’

• प्रत्येकम्: to each (one)
• प्रत्येकम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्येक (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘each individually’

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

• अर्पयेत्: should offer/present
• अर्पयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्रती: the observer of the vow
• व्रती: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: thus/indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis)

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• द्वादश-आदित्य-संज्ञकम्: named ‘(the vow) of the twelve Ādityas’
• द्वादश-आदित्य-संज्ञकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of व्रतम्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वादशानाम् आदित्यानाम् संज्ञा यस्य)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśa-Āditya-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Adityas
• Surya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, respectful, and individualized offering (pratyekam arpaṇa) as the core spirit of vrata—devotion expressed through careful ritual attention, culminating in the recognized observance called the Dvādaśa-Āditya vrata.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent service: honoring the divine recipients and offering with care to each one, not mechanically but with mindful respect—an outer act meant to embody inner devotion and steadiness in vow.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi): the rule of making offerings individually (pratyekaṃ) and using appropriate naivedya (madhura-anna), reflecting practical discipline in ceremonial performance.