Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

वैष्णव्याथ च पूरणां च शतमष्टोत्तर ततः । भोजयेत्पायसैर्विप्रान्प्रीत्या सुस्निग्धमानसः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

vaiṣṇavyātha ca pūraṇāṃ ca śatamaṣṭottara tataḥ | bhojayetpāyasairviprānprītyā susnigdhamānasaḥ || 74 ||

Translation

Alors, après l’observance vaishnava et après l’accomplissement des cent huit parts/actes purāṇiques, le cœur adouci par l’affection, on doit, avec joie, nourrir les brāhmaṇas de pāyasa, le riz au lait sucré.

Word by Word

• vaiṣṇavī: (the offering/observance) ‘Vaiṣṇavī’
• vaiṣṇavī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/व्रत-नाम (proper designation)

• atha: then/thereafter
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (sequencing particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• pūraṇām: pūraṇa-cakes/filled offerings
• pūraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘pūraṇā’ = पूरण-नामकाः (cakes/filled offerings)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• aṣṭa-uttaram: eight more (making 108)
• aṣṭa-uttaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्याविशेषण): ‘aṣṭa-uttara’ = eight more (i.e., 108)

• tataḥ: thereafter/from that
• tataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (from that/thereafter)

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्राय (optative/imperative sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष? (actually 3rd person singular causative sense) एकवचन; धातु ‘भुज्’ (to eat) → णिच् causative ‘भोजयति’ (to feed) ; विधिलिङ् 3rd sg: भोजयेत्

• pāyasaiḥ: with rice-pudding/sweet milk-food
• pāyasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• prītyā: with affection/with devotion
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• su-snigdha-mānasaḥ: one whose mind is very affectionate
• su-snigdha-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय उपसर्ग) + snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘सुस्निग्धं मानसं यस्य’ (having a very gentle/affectionate mind)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It frames devotion as completing a Viṣṇu-centered observance with compassionate giving—honoring sacred learning (Purāṇas) and concluding with respectful feeding of brāhmaṇas as an act of dharma.

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

Bhakti is shown as affectionate service (prītyā, susnigdha-mānasaḥ): devotion to Viṣṇu is expressed not only in recitation/observance but also in tangible hospitality and charity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure): the verse specifies a vrata-style sequence—Purāṇic count (108) and the concluding rite of brāhmaṇa-bhojana with pāyasa.