Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Second Twelve-Month Vrata: Dvitīyā Observances and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

रक्तैर्गंवैस्तथा स्वर्णमूर्तिं निर्माय शक्तितः । ततः पूर्णं ताम्रपात्रं गाघृमैर्वापितण्डुलैः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

raktairgaṃvaistathā svarṇamūrtiṃ nirmāya śaktitaḥ | tataḥ pūrṇaṃ tāmrapātraṃ gāghṛmairvāpitaṇḍulaiḥ || 26 ||

Translation

En offrant des vaches rouges en don, qu’on façonne, selon ses moyens, une effigie d’or; puis qu’on prépare un vase de cuivre rempli soit de ghee, soit de grains de riz cuits.

Word by Word

• रक्तैः: with red (ones)
• रक्तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• गवयैः: with gaṇḍa/gaur (wild cattle) (i.e., by means of)
• गवयैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गवय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तथा: and/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/क्रमसूचक (adverb/conjunctive)

• स्वर्ण-मूर्तिम्: a golden image
• स्वर्ण-मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्णस्य मूर्तिः)

• निर्माय: having fashioned
• निर्माय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + √मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय-प्रयोग; (having made)

• शक्तितः: according to one’s ability
• शक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘यथाशक्ति’ अर्थे

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

• पूर्णम्: filled
• पूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ताम्रपात्रम्)

• ताम्र-पात्रम्: a copper vessel
• ताम्र-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (ताम्रं पात्रम्)

• गाघृमैः: with ghee
• गाघृमैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप: ‘घृतैः’ (with ghee) इत्यर्थः

• वापित-तण्डुलैः: with prepared (roasted/processed) rice grains
• वापित-तण्डुलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापित (कृदन्त; √वप्/√वाप्, क्त) + तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (वापिताः तण्डुलाः—भर्जित/संस्कृत-तण्डुलाः)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (continuation of the same vrata-vidhi sequence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes capacity-based dharma (śaktitaḥ): merit is gained by sincere, proportionate offerings—golden image, cows, and staple ritual foods—performed as an act of sacred giving.

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

Though framed as ritual procedure, the intent is devotional offering—preparing consecrated items (idol, ghee, rice) to honor the deity and support sacred acts, which nourishes bhakti through reverent service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual pragmatics (procedural rules for offerings and vessels), aligning with Vedanga-oriented discipline in how materials are selected and prepared for religious rites.