Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

द्वादशैव हि सौवर्णीं दक्षिणां प्रददेन्नमेत् । इति कृत्वा व्रतं विप्र प्रीणयित्वा जनार्दनम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśaiva hi sauvarṇīṃ dakṣiṇāṃ pradadennamet | iti kṛtvā vrataṃ vipra prīṇayitvā janārdanam || 66 ||

Translation

Wahrlich, man soll genau zwölf Goldstücke als Dakṣiṇā (heilige Gabe) darreichen und sich dann verneigen. So, o Brāhmaṇa, hat man durch die Einhaltung des Gelübdes Janārdana (Viṣṇu) erfreut und das Ritual vollendet.

Word by Word

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; अत्र कर्मविशेषण (twelve as measure)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ-निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• सौवर्णीम्: golden (made of gold)
• सौवर्णीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दक्षिणाम्: a priestly fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रददेत्: should give
• प्रददेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नमेत्: should bow
• नमेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रीणयित्वा: having pleased
• प्रीणयित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्री (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) + क्त्वा (absolutive): प्रीणयित्वा; अव्ययभाव

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (continuation of the same vrata sequence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vrata becomes spiritually fruitful when completed with proper dakṣiṇā (charitable honorarium) and humble namaskāra, culminating in the pleasing of Janārdana (Vishnu).

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

Bhakti is expressed here through reverent action—offering (dāna/dakṣiṇā) and bowing (namana)—with the explicit aim of pleasing Vishnu, showing devotion as disciplined worship rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice): completing a vowed observance with prescribed dakṣiṇā and formal salutation as part of correct rite-performance.