Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तत्स्वशाखोक्तविधिना कर्तव्यं द्विजसत्तम । शताभिमंत्रितं कृत्वा ततो देव्यै निवेदयेत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tatsvaśākhoktavidhinā kartavyaṃ dvijasattama | śatābhimaṃtritaṃ kṛtvā tato devyai nivedayet || 21 ||

Translation

O Bester der Zweifachgeborenen, es ist nach dem in der eigenen vedischen Śākhā gelehrten Verfahren auszuführen. Nachdem man es durch hundertfache Mantra-Rezitation geweiht hat, soll man es der Devī, der Göttin, darbringen.

Word by Word

• तत्-स्व-शाखा-उक्त-विधिना: by the rule stated in one’s own (Vedic) branch
• तत्-स्व-शाखा-उक्त-विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शाखा (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् क्त) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘विधिना’ इति मुख्यपदम्—विशेषणसमासः

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) — ‘to be done/should be done’

• द्विज-सत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शत-अभिमन्त्रितम्: (that which is) consecrated a hundred times
• शत-अभिमन्त्रितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमन्त्रित (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्त्र् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘(thing) consecrated/enchanted a hundred times’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having done’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘thereafter/then’

• देव्यै: to the Goddess
• देव्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pavitrāropaṇa (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes fidelity to one’s Vedic tradition (śākhā) and the sanctifying power of mantra-recitation, teaching that offerings become spiritually fit through proper vidhi and abhimantrana before being presented to the Devi.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship: devotion is not merely emotion but careful, reverent offering (nivedana) to the Goddess after mantra-consecration, aligning the devotee’s act with scriptural procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual precision grounded in one’s śākhā (linked to Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta practice) and the technical act of abhimantrana—mantra-based consecration—showing applied Vedic liturgical method.