Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां ज्येष्ठशुक्लायां पूजयित्वा त्रिविक्रमम् । गंधाद्यैर्मधुरान्नाढ्यं करक विनिवेदयेत् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ jyeṣṭhaśuklāyāṃ pūjayitvā trivikramam | gaṃdhādyairmadhurānnāḍhyaṃ karaka vinivedayet || 17 ||

Translation

Au Dvādaśī de la quinzaine claire de Jyeṣṭha, après avoir honoré Trivikrama (Viṣṇu) par des parfums et autres offrandes, qu’on présente un récipient karaka rempli de mets doux.

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the twelfth (lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठ-शुक्लायाम्: in the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha
• ज्येष्ठ-शुक्लायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘ज्येष्ठमासस्य शुक्लपक्षे’ इति

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• त्रिविक्रमम्: Trivikrama (Vishnu)
• त्रिविक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म; object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes etc.
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• मधुर-अन्न-आढ्यम्: rich with sweet food
• मधुर-अन्न-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘करक(म्)’; ‘मधुरान्नैः आढ्यम्’ (rich in sweet food)

• करकम्: a vessel/pitcher (offering vessel)
• करकम्: Karma (कर्म; object to be offered)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विनिवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• विनिवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + वेद्/विद् (धातु; ‘निवेदय’ causative stem)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (causative/णिजन्त) ‘to present/offer’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (Jyeṣṭha śukla-dvādaśī) for Trivikrama

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Trivikrama
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Dvādaśī worship of Vishnu as Trivikrama, teaching that devotion is expressed through proper upacāras (fragrance and related offerings) and sincere naivedya (food offering) as part of a vrata.

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

Bhakti here is practical and embodied: the devotee honors Vishnu with pūjā and offers a well-prepared, sweet naivedya in a dedicated vessel, showing reverence, gratitude, and disciplined observance of sacred time (tithi).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/ritual timing (tithi-based observance—Dvādaśī in Jyeṣṭha śukla pakṣa), aligning with jyotiṣa-style vrata scheduling and standard pūjā procedure (upacāras and naivedya).