Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र संपूजयेद्देवं कामरूपिणमच्युतम् । गंधाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु सोपवासो परेऽहनि ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tatra saṃpūjayeddevaṃ kāmarūpiṇamacyutam | gaṃdhādyairupacāraistu sopavāso pare'hani || 5 ||

Translation

Là, qu’on adore le Seigneur Acyuta, qui prend la forme désirée, par des services rituels commençant par les substances parfumées et autres offrandes; et le lendemain, qu’on observe le jeûne (upavāsa).

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb of place ‘there/in that place’

• saṃpūjayet: should worship
• saṃpūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pūj (पूज्)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त); विधिलिङ् (optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘should worship fully’

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāma-rūpiṇam: assuming forms at will
• kāma-rūpiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः: कामरूपः यस्य/कामरूपिणः (one who assumes desired forms)

• acyutam: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• acyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper epithet of Viṣṇu

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः: गन्धः आदिः येषां तैः (with perfumes etc.)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/conjunction indicating emphasis/contrast

• sa-upavāsaḥ: (being) with fasting / fasting
• sa-upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय ‘with’) + upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; अव्ययीभावः: सोपवासः = उपवाससहितः (one who is fasting)

• pare: on the next
• pare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used adverbially; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with ahani; ‘on the next’

• ahani: day
• ahani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Acyuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that complete worship (saṃpūjā) of Vishnu—served through traditional upacāras like fragrance—culminates in self-discipline, expressed here as a next-day fast, blending devotion with restraint.

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

Bhakti is shown as loving service through tangible offerings (gandha and other upacāras) directed to Acyuta, the responsive Lord (kāmarūpin), and as inner dedication through upavāsa, making worship both external and internal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice) is emphasized: performing pūjā with prescribed upacāras and observing a timed fast (vrata discipline) on the following day as part of the rite’s completion.