Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

मधुरान्नेन वस्त्राढ्यां सौवर्णीं दक्षिणां ददेत् । व्रतेनैतेन संतुष्टः पद्मनाभो द्विजोत्तम ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

madhurānnena vastrāḍhyāṃ sauvarṇīṃ dakṣiṇāṃ dadet | vratenaitena saṃtuṣṭaḥ padmanābho dvijottama || 26 ||

Translation

Qu’il donne une dakṣiṇā d’or, accompagnée de mets sucrés et de beaux vêtements. Par ce vœu, Padmanābha (Viṣṇu) est satisfait, ô meilleur des deux-fois-nés.

Word by Word

• मधुरान्नेन: with sweet food
• मधुरान्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Karmadhāraya: ‘मधुरम् अन्नम्’ = sweet food

• वस्त्राढ्याम्: rich in garments
• वस्त्राढ्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘वस्त्रेण आढ्या’ = rich in garments; qualifying दक्षिणाम्

• सौवर्णीम्: golden
• सौवर्णीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying दक्षिणाम्

• दक्षिणाम्: gift/dakṣiṇā
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• व्रतेन: by/with this vow
• व्रतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• एतेन: by this
• एतेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-adjective, Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; qualifying व्रतेन

• संतुष्टः: satisfied/pleased
• संतुष्टः: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तुष् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate of पद्मनाभः

• पद्मनाभः: Padmanābha (Vishnu)
• पद्मनाभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘द्विजेषु उत्तम’ = best among the twice-born

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (continuation of a Dvādaśī/vrata context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Padmanabha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vrata becomes spiritually complete when paired with respectful dāna—especially dakṣiṇā—offered with devotion, which directly pleases Padmanābha (Viṣṇu).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as practical reverence: honoring the rite and its officiants with sweet offerings, garments, and gold, done to satisfy Viṣṇu rather than for mere social merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in emphasizing dakṣiṇā and proper accompanying gifts as part of vrata-vidhi (the correct performance of a vow).