Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

दशयोगः समाख्यातो महापुण्यतमो द्विज । हरते दश पापानि तस्माद्दशहरः स्मृतः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

daśayogaḥ samākhyāto mahāpuṇyatamo dvija | harate daśa pāpāni tasmāddaśaharaḥ smṛtaḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Ô dvija, ce «Daśa-yoga» est proclamé comme le plus hautement méritoire. Il efface dix péchés; c’est pourquoi on s’en souvient sous le nom de «Daśahara», le destructeur de dix (péchés).

Word by Word

• daśa-yogaḥ: the ‘tenfold’ observance/combination
• daśa-yogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘दशानां योगः’

• samākhyātaḥ: is declared/called
• samākhyātaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘समाख्यातः’ = ‘is called/has been declared’

• mahā-puṇya-tamaḥ: most meritorious
• mahā-puṇya-tamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तमत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) ‘दशयोगः’ इत्यस्य; तमत् (superlative) = ‘most’

• dvija: O brahmin
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• harate: removes
• harate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः (numeral used adjectivally); ‘पापानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with neut. acc. pl.)

• pāpāni: sins
• pāpāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभावार्थे निपातवत् (indeclinable adverbial use); हेतौ/तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that reason’

• daśa-haraḥ: (the) remover of ten (sins)
• daśa-haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘दशानां (पापानां) हरः’ = remover of ten (sins)

• smṛtaḥ: is regarded (as)
• smṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is considered/known’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśaharā (via Daśa-yoga/Daśahara designation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It defines Daśahara as the highly meritorious ‘Daśayoga’ that destroys ten sins, emphasizing papakṣaya (sin-removal) through auspicious timing/observance and dharmic practice.

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

By highlighting sin-removal and merit gained through a sacred observance, it supports bhakti-oriented living where purity (śuddhi) and repentance/atonement strengthen devotion and readiness for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to calendrical/auspicious ‘yoga’ considerations—linked to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology)—where specific time-conjunctions and observances are treated as spiritually potent.