Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां नियतो भूत्वा पूजयेच्च जनार्दनम् । उपचारैः षोडशभिस्ततः संभोज्य वाडवान् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ niyato bhūtvā pūjayecca janārdanam | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhistataḥ saṃbhojya vāḍavān || 32 ||

Translation

Le jour de Dvādaśī, devenu maître de soi, qu’on adore Janārdana selon les seize services rituels; puis qu’on nourrisse les brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• नियतः: disciplined, restrained
• नियतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); ‘having become’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction/and)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• षोडशभिः: by sixteen
• षोडशभिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of ‘उपचारैः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वलिङ्ग (all genders), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequential adverb)

• संभोज्य: having fed
• संभोज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to subsequent implied action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; causative sense not implied; ‘having fed/entertained’

• वाडवान्: Brahmins (vāḍava-s)
• वाडवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘संभोज्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī observance (paired with Ekādaśī-vrata context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the culmination of a vrata is disciplined worship of Viṣṇu (Janārdana) followed by charity in the form of feeding worthy brāhmaṇas—uniting devotion (bhakti) with dharmic giving.

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

Bhakti is expressed through regulated conduct (niyama) and direct worship of Janārdana using complete, respectful service (ṣoḍaśopacāra), treating worship as loving attendance to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: observing the tithi (Dvādaśī), maintaining niyama, performing ṣoḍaśopacāra-pūjā, and concluding with prescribed hospitality/feeding—core applied knowledge of vrata-vidhi.