Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ददाति विपुलान्भोगानंते मोक्षं च नारद । आषाढशुक्लद्वादश्यां द्विजान्द्वादश भोजयेत् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

dadāti vipulānbhogānaṃte mokṣaṃ ca nārada | āṣāḍhaśukladvādaśyāṃ dvijāndvādaśa bhojayet || 19 ||

Translation

Ô Nārada, cela accorde d’abondantes jouissances et, à la fin, la délivrance aussi. Au Dvādaśī de la quinzaine claire (śukla) du mois d’Āṣāḍha, on doit nourrir douze « deux-fois-nés » (brāhmanes).

Word by Word

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धाातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• vipulān: abundant
• vipulān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifying)

• bhogān: enjoyments
• bhogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे (in the sense of 'at the end')

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

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

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• āṣāḍha-śukla-dvādaśyām: on the bright (fortnight) Dvādaśī of Āṣāḍha
• āṣāḍha-śukla-dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine; dvādaśī), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/विशेषण-समासार्थः: 'आषाढस्य शुक्लपक्षे द्वादश्याम्'

• dvijān: Brahmins (twice-born)
• dvijān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण (numeral adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'dvijān' इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धाातु) [causative: bhojaya-]
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (Vaiṣṇava observance; specific name not stated in the verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Dvadasi
• Ashadha

FAQs

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

The verse links a specific vrata-related act—feeding twelve dvijas on Āṣāḍha Śukla Dvādaśī—with both immediate merit (prosperity/enjoyments) and the highest fruit (mokṣa), showing how dharmic ritual can culminate in liberation.

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

By prescribing Dvādaśī observance and respectful service (anna-dāna) to dvijas, it reflects the bhakti ethos of honoring sacred time and offering selfless service as an expression of devotion that purifies and leads toward mokṣa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (lunar calendrics) are implied: the rite is timed precisely to Āṣāḍha, Śukla pakṣa, Dvādaśī, and specifies the count (twelve recipients), indicating formal vrata and dāna methodology.