Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

आषाढशुक्लद्वादश्यामुपवासी जितेन्द्रियः । वामनं पूर्वमानेन स्नापयेत्पयसा व्रती ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

āṣāḍhaśukladvādaśyāmupavāsī jitendriyaḥ | vāmanaṃ pūrvamānena snāpayetpayasā vratī || 58 ||

Translation

Am Dvādaśī der hellen Monatshälfte im Monat Āṣāḍha soll der Gelübdeübende—fastend und die Sinne bezwingend—Vāmana (die Gottheit) mit Milch baden, gemäß dem zuvor dargelegten Maß und Ritus.

Word by Word

• āṣāḍha-śukla-dvādaśyām: on the bright (fortnight) Dvādaśī of Āṣāḍha
• āṣāḍha-śukla-dvādaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणे (locative of time)

• upavāsī: one who is fasting
• upavāsī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि (agent noun)

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled
• jita-indriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त; √ji जि (धातु) + क्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘जितेन्द्रियः’ = whose senses are conquered

• vāmanaṃ: Vāmana (the deity)
• vāmanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• pūrva-mānena: with the prescribed/previous measure (as per rule)
• pūrva-mānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• snāpayet: should bathe (cause to be bathed)
• snāpayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना धातु) [causative/णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• payasā: with milk
• payasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vāmana-vrata (contextual; Vāmana worship on Dvādaśī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana

FAQs

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

It links inner discipline (fasting and sense-restraint) with outward devotion (Vāmana-abhiṣeka), presenting vrata as a combined practice of self-mastery and Viṣṇu-upāsanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent service to Viṣṇu as Vāmana—bathing the deity with milk—performed with purity, restraint, and adherence to prescribed ritual standards.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through “pūrva-mānena,” emphasizing correct measure, sequence, and method in worship observances.