Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ततश्च द्विजदांपत्यं सम्यगभ्यर्च्य भोजयेत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणं तस्मै सत्कृत्य प्रतिपादयेत् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

tataśca dvijadāṃpatyaṃ samyagabhyarcya bhojayet | lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ tasmai satkṛtya pratipādayet || 39 ||

Translation

Ensuite, qu’on honore comme il se doit et qu’on nourrisse un couple de brāhmanes ; puis, après les avoir vénérés avec respect, qu’on leur remette une image (ou représentation) de Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (then)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• dvija-dāṃpatyam: the brāhmaṇa couple
• dvija-dāṃpatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + dāṃpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘द्विजस्य दाम्पत्यम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘अभि+अर्च्’ (to worship/honour) having worshipped

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Vidhi-kriyā (विधेयक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु, causative भोजयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative)

• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa (as a pair)
• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर; देवताद्वयम्); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• sat-kṛtya: having honoured
• sat-kṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘सत्कृ’ (to honour properly) having honoured

• pratipādayet: should present/offer
• pratipādayet: Vidhi-kriyā (विधेयक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati+pad (धातु, causative प्रतिपादयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Narayana
• Dvija (Brahmin couple)

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa is expressed not only by worship but also by dharmic hospitality—honoring and feeding a worthy Brahmin couple—and by dana (gifting a sacred representation of the Lord), integrating bhakti with righteous conduct.

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

Bhakti here is practical and embodied: one worships Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and then extends that reverence outward through respectful service (bhojana) and offering (pratipādana), treating dharmic recipients as honored participants in the Lord’s worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and dharma-prayoga are implied: proper sequencing of worship (abhyarcya), hospitality/feeding (bhojayet), and gifting (pratipādayet)—a practical application aligned with Kalpa (ritual discipline) rather than a technical exposition of grammar or astrology.