Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पूजयेत्कमलैः पुष्पैर्गंधमाल्यानुलेपनैः । द्विजान्सम्भोज्य मिष्टान्नौस्तोषयेद्दक्षिणादिभिः ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

pūjayetkamalaiḥ puṣpairgaṃdhamālyānulepanaiḥ | dvijānsambhojya miṣṭānnaustoṣayeddakṣiṇādibhiḥ || 62 ||

Translation

Man soll (die Gottheit) mit Lotosblüten und anderen Blumen, mit Düften, Girlanden und Salbungen verehren. Nachdem man die Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) mit süßen Speisen bewirtet hat, soll man sie durch Gaben erfreuen, beginnend mit der dakṣiṇā.

Word by Word

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kamalaiḥ: with lotuses
• kamalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gandha-mālya-anulepanaiḥ: with perfumes, garlands, and unguents
• gandha-mālya-anulepanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + mālya + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'with perfumes, garlands, and unguents'

• dvijān: the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sambhojya: having fed (them)
• sambhojya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam + √bhuj (धातु) + ण्यत्/ल्यप्-भाव (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund/Absolutive sense (avyaya-kṛdanta): 'having fed/entertained well' (सम्भोज्य)

• miṣṭa-annauḥ: with sweet foods
• miṣṭa-annauḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: miṣṭa + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'sweet foods'

• toṣayet: should satisfy/please
• toṣayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dakṣiṇā-ādibhiḥ: with fees/gifts and the like
• dakṣiṇā-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) for dakṣiṇā; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'with gifts etc.' (आदि-समास/तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga’s summary-style discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (component of the Śiva-vrata sequence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Dakshina

FAQs

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

It links inner devotion to outward dharmic conduct: worship through pure offerings, and completion of the rite by honoring learned dvijas with food and dakṣiṇā, making the worship socially and spiritually complete.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only by decorating and offering to the deity (flowers, fragrance, garlands) but also by serving devotees and custodians of Vedic tradition (dvijas) through respectful hospitality and gifts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—proper upacāras in pūjā and the customary conclusion of rites through brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dakṣiṇā.