Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ऋतुं दक्षं वसून्सत्यं कालं कामं मुनिं गुरुम् । विप्रं रामं च दशधा केशवस्तान्समास्थितः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

ṛtuṃ dakṣaṃ vasūnsatyaṃ kālaṃ kāmaṃ muniṃ gurum | vipraṃ rāmaṃ ca daśadhā keśavastānsamāsthitaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

Keśava demeure en ces dix formes : Ṛtu, Dakṣa, les Vasus, Satya, Kāla, Kāma, le Sage (Muni), le Guru, le Brāhmane (Vipra) et Rāma.

Word by Word

• ṛtum: Ṛtu (name/aspect)
• ṛtum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dakṣam: Dakṣa
• dakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vasūn: the Vasus
• vasūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• satyam: Satya
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (as proper name/aspect)

• kālam: Kāla (Time)
• kālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kāmam: Kāma (Desire)
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• munim: sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• gurum: teacher
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vipram: brāhmaṇa
• vipram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• daśadhā: tenfold
• daśadhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय), ‘in ten ways’

• keśavaḥ: Keśava
• keśavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; refers to the listed forms

• sam-āsthitaḥ: having assumed (as forms)
• sam-āsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having assumed/entered upon’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Keshava
• Vishnu
• Daksha
• Vasus
• Rama
• Kala
• Kama

FAQs

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

It teaches a purāṇic vision of all-pervasion: Keśava (Viṣṇu) is to be contemplated as operating through cosmic order (ṛtu), time (kāla), truth (satya), and also through sacred human channels like the guru and the vipra—making devotion a way of seeing the Divine in both cosmos and dharma.

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

Bhakti here is strengthened through nāma-and-rūpa remembrance: by meditating on Keśava in multiple recognized forms—cosmic principles and revered beings—the devotee expands worship beyond a single image and learns constant smaraṇa (remembrance) in daily life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly supports Vedāṅga-based dharma: ṛtu (seasonal order) connects to Jyotiṣa (time/season reckoning for rites), while vipra and guru point to Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-style preservation of Vedic learning through qualified teachers and reciters.