Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

गंधाद्यैस्तत्परो भक्त्या दधिभक्तैर्द्विजोत्तमान् । संभोज्य दक्षिणा रौप्यां दत्वा नत्वा विसर्ज्जयेत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃdhādyaistatparo bhaktyā dadhibhaktairdvijottamān | saṃbhojya dakṣiṇā raupyāṃ datvā natvā visarjjayet || 22 ||

Translation

With devoted focus on Him, one should honor the best of the twice-born with fragrances and the like, feed them with curd and rice, give a silver dakṣiṇā, bow down, and then respectfully dismiss them.

Word by Word

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes etc.
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; 'गन्ध-आदि' = perfumes etc.

• tat-paraḥ: being intent on that
• tat-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'तस्मिन् परः' = devoted to that (rite/deity)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• dadhi-bhaktaiḥ: with curd-rice/curd-food
• dadhi-bhaktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; bhakta = cooked rice/food), तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'दध्ना युक्तैः भक्तैः' (foods with curd)

• dvija-uttamān: excellent Brahmins
• dvija-uttamān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'उत्तमाः द्विजाः'

• saṃbhojya: having fed (them) well
• saṃbhojya: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धाातु) [causative/with sam-]
• Form: क्त्वा-समर्थ ल्यप् (gerund/absolutive): 'सम्भोज्य' = having fed well

• dakṣiṇām: a fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• raupyām: of silver
• raupyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raupya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'dakṣiṇām' इति विशेषणम्

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धाातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धाातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• visarjjayet: should dismiss (send off)
• visarjjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धाातु) [with vi-; causative: sarjaya-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is completed through reverent service—honoring the learned (dvijottama), giving dakṣiṇā, and offering pranāma—so the ritual becomes an act of bhakti rather than mere formality.

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

Bhakti here is shown as focused intention toward the Lord (tat-para) expressed outwardly through pure offerings, feeding guests/priests, giving gifts, and humble bowing—devotion embodied in conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure: the proper sequence of upacāras (gandha etc.), bhojana (feeding), dakṣiṇā (gift), namaskāra (bowing), and visarjana (formal dismissal) as part of ritual completion.