Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तं समभ्यर्च्य विधिवदेकैकां पिंडिकां सुधीः । होमयेत्सतिलाज्यां च द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ samabhyarcya vidhivadekaikāṃ piṃḍikāṃ sudhīḥ | homayetsatilājyāṃ ca dvādaśākṣaravidyayā || 73 ||

Translation

Après L’avoir honoré selon le rite, le sage doit offrir dans le feu du homa chaque boulette, l’une après l’autre, avec du ghee mêlé de sésame, tout en récitant la science-mantra aux douze syllabes (dvādaśākṣara).

Word by Word

• tam: him/that (deity/fire)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg)

• samabhyarcya: having worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abh-arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having duly worshipped”

• vidhivat: properly, as prescribed
• vidhivat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb), “according to rule”

• eka-ekām: each (one)
• eka-ekām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg); पुनरुक्त-कर्मधारय: “each single/one by one” (qualifies piṃḍikām)

• piṃḍikām: pellet/lump
• piṃḍikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṃḍikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg)

• su-dhīḥ: the wise person
• su-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom) एकवचन (sg); बहुव्रीहि: “one whose intellect is good”

• homayet: should offer (as oblation)
• homayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg); causative sense in usage: “should offer in fire (perform homa)”

• sa-tila-ājyām: with sesame and ghee
• sa-tila-ājyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + tila (प्रातिपदिक) + ājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg); अव्ययीभाव: “with sesame and ghee” (qualifies an implied oblation/āhuti)

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

• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: by the twelve-syllable mantra
• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), तृतीया (Instr) एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: “by the twelve-syllabled mantra/vidyā”

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (homa segment within the ongoing observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion is expressed through disciplined ritual: worship (arcana) followed by mantra-guided offerings (homa), showing that inner reverence is strengthened by correct, sequential sacred action.

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

Bhakti is presented as mantra-centered worship of Vishnu—honoring Him first, then offering oblations while reciting the dvādaśākṣarī—uniting loving remembrance (mantra) with consecrated action (homa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: the verse specifies vidhivat performance, the sequence of offerings (ekaika), and the correct use of mantra in homa—core principles of Vedic ritual science.