Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ततः कुंभानपांपूर्णान्वस्त्राच्छन्नान्समर्चितान् । सपूगमोदकस्वर्णांस्तेभ्यः प्रीत्या समर्पयेत् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ kuṃbhānapāṃpūrṇānvastrācchannānsamarcitān | sapūgamodakasvarṇāṃstebhyaḥ prītyā samarpayet || 37 ||

Translation

Ensuite, avec une bienveillance joyeuse, qu’on leur offre des cruches pleines d’eau—recouvertes d’un tissu et dûment honorées—avec des noix de bétel, des douceurs (modaka) et de l’or.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Krama (क्रम/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक अव्यय)

• kuṃbhān: pots, pitchers
• kuṃbhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• apām-pūrṇān: filled with water
• apām-pūrṇān: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक; ‘water’) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying ‘kuṃbhān’

• vastra-ācchannān: covered with cloth
• vastra-ācchannān: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ācchanna (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from ā-√chad/छद् ‘to cover’)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); past participle used adjectivally; qualifies ‘kuṃbhān’

• sam-arcitān: well-honored, duly worshipped
• sam-arcitān: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + √arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle (क्त) qualifying ‘kuṃbhān’

• sa-pūga-modaka-svarṇān: along with areca-nuts, sweets, and gold
• sa-pūga-modaka-svarṇān: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सहित अर्थ) + pūga (प्रातिपदिक) + modaka (प्रातिपदिक) + svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying ‘kuṃbhān’; ‘together with areca-nuts, sweets, and gold’

• tebhyaḥ: to them (to those Brahmins)
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prītyā: with affection, gladly
• prītyā: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/भाव-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samarpayet: should offer, should present
• samarpayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √arp (अर्प् धातु; causative sense ‘to offer/hand over’)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Narada (teaching, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dāmodara-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) becomes spiritually fruitful when offerings are both auspicious (water-filled kumbha, cloth, sweets, gold) and given with prīti—sincere goodwill—after honoring the gift and the recipient.

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

By emphasizing prīti (loving intention) in giving, the verse aligns ritual action with bhakti: the inner attitude of reverence and affection is what sanctifies the external offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure: the correct sequence and form of offerings—honoring (samarcita), covering with cloth, and accompanying items—showing applied ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.