Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तां स्थाप्य रौप्यपात्रे तु सितवस्त्रयुगावृताम् । प्रदद्याद्वेदविदुषे तं हि संभोजयेत्ततः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

tāṃ sthāpya raupyapātre tu sitavastrayugāvṛtām | pradadyādvedaviduṣe taṃ hi saṃbhojayettataḥ || 87 ||

Translation

Man stelle sie in ein silbernes Gefäß und bedecke sie mit einem Paar weißer Tücher; dann gebe man sie einem Kenner der Veden. Danach soll man jenen Gelehrten ehrerbietig mit einer Mahlzeit bewirten.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (stone)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (refers to śilā)

• स्थाप्य: having placed
• स्थाप्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having placed/installed’

• रौप्य-पात्रे: in a silver vessel
• रौप्य-पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘रौप्यं पात्रम्’; अधिकरण

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle: but/indeed)

• सित-वस्त्र-युग-आवृताम्: covered with a pair of white cloths
• सित-वस्त्र-युग-आवृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त, आ-√वृ धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘सितवस्त्रयोः युगेन आवृता’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष-प्राय; कर्मविशेषण (qualifier of ‘ताम्’)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेद-विदुषे: to a knower of the Veda
• वेद-विदुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘वेदस्य विद्वान्’; सम्प्रदान

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (refers to the recipient)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुबोधक (particle: indeed/for)

• संभोजयेत्: should feed/entertain
• संभोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद (causative sense ‘make eat/feed’)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (adverb: thereafter)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara brothers, within the Adhyaya’s ritual guidance context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (continuation of Śālagrāma rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brāhmaṇa (Vedavit)

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) becomes spiritually complete when it is offered respectfully—purely arranged, properly presented, and followed by honoring the Veda-knower through hospitality (bhojana).

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

Though framed as ritual conduct, it supports bhakti by cultivating humility, reverence for sacred knowledge, and service to the learned—attitudes that purify the heart and strengthen devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Smārta-vidhi (ritual procedure): the correct way to prepare an offering (vessel, clean white cloth) and the customary completion through brāhmaṇa-bhojana (feeding the qualified recipient).