Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

भाद्रे तु कृष्णपंचम्यां नागान् क्षीरेण तर्पयेत् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

bhādre tu kṛṣṇapaṃcamyāṃ nāgān kṣīreṇa tarpayet || 33 ||

Translation

Au mois de Bhādrapada, au jour de Kṛṣṇa Pañcamī (cinquième de la quinzaine sombre), qu’on satisfasse les Nāgas en leur offrant du lait en tarpaṇa.

Word by Word

• भाद्रे: in (the month of) Bhādra
• भाद्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/and (emphatic)
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थे—विशेष/अन्वय (emphasis/contrast)

• कृष्ण-पञ्चम्याम्: on the dark-fortnight fifth (tithi)
• कृष्ण-पञ्चम्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/विशेषणपूर्वपद)

• नागान्: serpents (nāgas)
• नागान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer (libations)
• तर्पयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धात्वर्थः—तर्पण (to satisfy/offer libation)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instructional sequence; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied in Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nāgas

FAQs

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

It prescribes a time-specific act of tarpana—propitiating the Nāgas with milk—framing reverence to serpent-divinities as a dharmic observance aligned with the lunar calendar.

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

Bhakti here appears as disciplined devotional practice: honoring cosmic guardians (Nāgas) through a prescribed offering on an auspicious tithi, cultivating humility, gratitude, and ritual faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa and Jyotiṣa: it uses ritual procedure (tarpana with a specific substance) and precise calendrical timing (Bhādrapada, Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa, Pañcamī tithi).