Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां कार्तिके शुक्ले उपवासी जितेन्द्रियः । क्षीरेणाकढकमानेन दन्धा वाज्येन तावता ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ kārtike śukle upavāsī jitendriyaḥ | kṣīreṇākaḍhakamānena dandhā vājyena tāvatā || 79 ||

Translation

On Dvādaśī in the bright fortnight of Kārtika, one should fast with the senses restrained, and for the rite offer milk in the measure of one ḍhaka, together with curd—or else ghee—in the same measure.

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the twelfth (lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārttika
• कार्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (मासे)

• शुक्ले: in the bright (fortnight)
• शुक्ले: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पक्षे इति अध्याहारः

• उपवासी: one who is fasting
• उपवासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपवासं करोति इति (fasting person)

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• जितेन्द्रियः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य)

• क्षीरेण: with milk
• क्षीरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अकढकमानेन: by the measure of one akaḍhaka
• अकढकमानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकढक + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अकढकस्य मानम्)

• दन्धा: dandhā (textual/unclear item)
• दन्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/दुर्लभशब्दः—संभाव्यं ‘दध्ना’ इति तृतीया)

• वाज्येन: with ghee (prob.)
• वाज्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; (संभाव्यं ‘आज्येन’ = घृतेन)

• तावता: by that much/that quantity
• तावता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (by that much)

Speaker

Narada (teaching vrata-vidhi in the Narada Purana discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Padmanābha-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames Kārtika-śukla Dvādaśī as a disciplined vrata: fasting, sense-restraint, and a pure sāttvika offering (milk/curd/ghee) performed with measured exactness, emphasizing inner control alongside ritual correctness.

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

By prescribing upavāsa (fasting) with jitendriyatā (sense-mastery) and simple nourishing offerings, it aligns devotion with purity and restraint—core Vaishnava bhakti traits commonly taught in Narada Purana vrata contexts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the use of a fixed māna (ḍhaka measure) and specific dravyas (milk/curd/ghee), showing the Narada Purana’s attention to precise vrata-vidhi.