Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

दशम्यां विधिवत्स्नात्वा गृह्णीयाद्गोमयं व्रती । श्वेताया वैकवर्णाया अन्तरिक्षगतं द्विज ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

daśamyāṃ vidhivatsnātvā gṛhṇīyādgomayaṃ vratī | śvetāyā vaikavarṇāyā antarikṣagataṃ dvija || 68 ||

Translation

Am zehnten Mondtag (daśamī) soll der Gelübdeübende, nachdem er sich vorschriftsgemäß gebadet hat, Kuhdung nehmen—von einer weißen oder einfarbigen Kuh, o Zweimalgeborener—der als rein gilt, als wäre er in der Luft gelegen und von Unreinheit unberührt.

Word by Word

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (lunar day)
• दशम्याम्: अधिकरण (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

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

• गृह्णीयात्: should take
• गृह्णीयात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गोः मयम्)

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्वेतायाः: of a white (cow)
• श्वेतायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• एक-वर्णायाः: of a single-colored (cow)
• एक-वर्णायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (एकः वर्णः यस्याः)

• अन्तरिक्ष-गतम्: that which has fallen in the open/sky (i.e., not from a stall)
• अन्तरिक्ष-गतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अन्तरिक्षे गतम्)

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

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a vrata-vidhi passage; addressed to a dvija)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rūpa-vrata (procedure sequence continuing)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) as a foundation for vrata practice: bathing properly and using a ritually pure purifier (gomaya) prepares the practitioner’s body and space for sacred observance.

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

By prescribing careful purity and discipline on Daśamī, it frames devotion as expressed through regulated conduct—external cleanliness supporting inner steadiness for worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: it specifies the tithi (Daśamī), the preparatory bath, and the correct, uncontaminated collection of a purification substance used in rites.