Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84
The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months
Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas
गुरवे धेनुसहितां प्रत्यर्प्य प्रणमेत्पुरः । विप्रान्द्रादश संभोज्य तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ ८४ ॥
gurave dhenusahitāṃ pratyarpya praṇametpuraḥ | viprāndrādaśa saṃbhojya tebhyo dadyācca dakṣiṇām || 84 ||
Having offered a cow, together with its proper accompaniments, to one’s guru, one should bow down before him. Then, after feeding twelve brāhmaṇas, one should also give them the prescribed dakṣiṇā.
Narada (instructional narration within the Anukramanika-style section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a rite is spiritually sealed by humility to the guru and generosity through go-dāna, brāhmaṇa-bhojana, and dakṣiṇā—acts that convert ritual formality into dharma and puṇya.
By placing praṇāma to the guru first, the verse frames devotion as disciplined reverence and service (guru-sevā), expressed outwardly through charitable giving and honoring the learned.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the customary completion steps of a religious observance—dāna (gift), brāhmaṇa-bhojana (feeding), and dakṣiṇā (honorarium) as part of proper vidhi.