Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

भोजयित्वा द्विजानष्टौ ततः शुभफलं लभेत् । व्रतमेतत्समुदितं शुभाशुभनिदर्शनम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

bhojayitvā dvijānaṣṭau tataḥ śubhaphalaṃ labhet | vratametatsamuditaṃ śubhāśubhanidarśanam || 15 ||

Translation

Après avoir nourri huit dvija (brāhmaṇa), on obtient alors un fruit auspiceux. Ce vœu est proclamé comme révélant à la fois l’heureux et le néfaste.

Word by Word

• bhojayitvā: having fed
• bhojayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), causative sense from √bhuj → bhojay- (णिच्); 'having fed'

• dvijān: Brahmins/twice-born
• dvijān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying dvijān

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Hetu/Anantara (अनन्तर/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय)

• śubha-phalam: auspicious result
• śubha-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya 'auspicious fruit/result'

• labhet: should obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vratam: vow/observance
• vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vratam

• samuditam: declared/propounded
• samuditam: Pratijñā/Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudita (सम्+उद्+√i/√ud; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicative with vratam

• śubha-aśubha-nidarśanam: showing auspicious and inauspicious (signs/results)
• śubha-aśubha-nidarśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśubha (प्रातिपदिक) + nidarśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śubhasya aśubhasya ca nidarśanam = indicating auspicious and inauspicious (results/omens)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata-vidhi context, traditionally framed within dialogue with Sanatkumara/Sanatkumāra-bhrātṛs)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (continuation of the described remedial vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It highlights that a vrata is completed and empowered through dāna-like acts—here, feeding eight dvijas—yielding śubha-phala and also serving as a marker for interpreting outcomes as auspicious or inauspicious.

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

While not naming a deity directly, it aligns with bhakti-oriented dharma by emphasizing selfless service and honoring sacred recipients (dvijas), a common devotional expression that supports the vow’s spiritual efficacy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi) is implied: the specified number (eight) and the act of feeding qualified recipients reflects practical rules of observance and merit-generation in Vedic-aligned ritual practice.