Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एकविंशति पत्राणि चैकविंशतिनामभिः । समर्पयेद्भक्तियुक्तस्तानि नामानि वै श्रृणु ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ekaviṃśati patrāṇi caikaviṃśatināmabhiḥ | samarpayedbhaktiyuktastāni nāmāni vai śrṛṇu || 30 ||

Translation

Avec dévotion, qu’on offre vingt et une feuilles, chacune accompagnée de l’un des vingt et un noms. Écoute maintenant, en vérité, ces noms.

Word by Word

• ekaviṃśati: twenty-one
• ekaviṃśati: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka-viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (agreeing with patrāṇi)

• patrāṇi: leaves
• patrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eka-viṃśati-nāmabhiḥ: with (the) twenty-one names
• eka-viṃśati-nāmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka-viṃśati + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ekaviṃśateḥ nāmāni → ekaviṃśatināmāni; तैः = nāmabhiḥ)

• samarpayet: should offer
• samarpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• bhakti-yuktaḥ: endowed with devotion
• bhakti-yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti + yukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (bhaktyā yuktaḥ)

• tāni: those (leaves)
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• śṛṇu: hear (listen)
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

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 (bhakti) is expressed through disciplined worship—offering a fixed number of items while invoking sacred names, making the ritual both heartfelt and mindful.

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

Bhakti is shown as active and attentive: the devotee offers (samarpayet) with devotion (bhakti-yuktaḥ) and listens/receives the sacred names (śṛṇu), uniting action, reverence, and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure: a precise count of offerings and the prescribed recitation of names, emphasizing correct method and sequence in worship.