Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

चितिर्हयो नृपश्चैव हंसो नारायणस्तथा । विभुश्चापि प्रभुश्चैव साध्या द्वादश कीर्तिताः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

citirhayo nṛpaścaiva haṃso nārāyaṇastathā | vibhuścāpi prabhuścaiva sādhyā dvādaśa kīrtitāḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Citi, Haya, Nṛpa, Haṁsa, Nārāyaṇa, Vibhu, Prabhu et Sādhya — ces douze appellations divines sont ainsi proclamées.

Word by Word

• चितिः: Citi (name)
• चितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• हयः: Haya (name)
• हयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नृपः: Nṛpa (name)
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• हंसः: Haṃsa (name)
• हंसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम-अर्थे (also)

• विभुः: Vibhu (name)
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• प्रभुः: Prabhu (name)
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• साध्याः: the Sādhyas
• साध्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; देवगण-नाम (class of deities)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with साध्याः)

• कीर्तिताः: are declared/mentioned
• कीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate)

Speaker

Narada (in an enumerative/anukramanika context within Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sādhya-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vibhu
• Prabhu
• Hamsa
• Sadhyas

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramanika-style enumeration of sacred divine epithets/forms, emphasizing remembrance and identification of the Supreme (especially as Nārāyaṇa) through authoritative naming.

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

By presenting a set of revered names—Nārāyaṇa, Vibhu, Prabhu, Haṁsa, etc.—the verse supports bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa and nāma-kīrtana: devotion cultivated by repeatedly recalling and praising the Lord’s attributes and forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa-oriented clarity of nāma (names/epithets) and their semantic force: the verse models how precise appellations (e.g., Vibhu ‘all-pervading’) convey doctrinal meaning useful for recitation, teaching, and ritualized praise.