Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अंकुरारोपणं कृत्वा यवैर्गोधूममिश्रितैः । ततः प्रतिदिनं कुर्यादेकभुक्तमयाचितम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

aṃkurāropaṇaṃ kṛtvā yavairgodhūmamiśritaiḥ | tataḥ pratidinaṃ kuryādekabhuktamayācitam || 31 ||

Translation

Having performed the planting of sprouts using barley mixed with wheat, one should thereafter, each day, eat only once—and that food should be unasked-for, received without solicitation.

Word by Word

• अङ्कुर-आरोपणम्: sowing/planting of sprouts
• अङ्कुर-आरोपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (aṅkurāṇām āropaṇam)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having done’

• यवैः: with barley grains
• यवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गोधूम-मिश्रितैः: mixed with wheat
• गोधूम-मिश्रितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोधूम (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्रित (कृदन्त; मिश्र् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (godhūmena miśritāḥ)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• प्रति-दिनम्: daily
• प्रति-दिनम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘each day’

• कुर्यात्: should do/observe
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• एक-भुक्तम्: eating once (a day)
• एक-भुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (कृदन्त; भुज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ekavāraṃ bhuktam)

• अ-याचितम्: unsolicited (food)
• अ-याचितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याच् (धातु) + अ- (नञ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘not begged/unsolicited’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Navarātra (continuation context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It prescribes a vrata-style discipline: a ritual act (sprout planting with grains) followed by daily self-restraint—eating once and without solicitation—cultivating purity, humility, and steadiness in religious practice.

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

By emphasizing regulated living and non-demanding conduct (ayācita), it supports bhakti through humility and reduced dependence on desire, making the mind fit for sustained worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and discipline (kalpa-oriented vrata-vidhi) is implied: specific materials (barley mixed with wheat), a defined act (aṃkurāropaṇa), and a daily rule (ekabhukta, ayācita) forming a structured observance.