Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तिलदर्भांबुभिः कार्यं तर्प्पणं द्विजभोजनम् । कृशरान्नं स्वयं चापि तदेवाश्नीत वाग्यतः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

tiladarbhāṃbubhiḥ kāryaṃ tarppaṇaṃ dvijabhojanam | kṛśarānnaṃ svayaṃ cāpi tadevāśnīta vāgyataḥ || 68 ||

Translation

Qu’on accomplisse le tarpaṇa avec de l’eau mêlée de sésame et d’herbe darbha, et qu’on nourrisse aussi les dvija (brāhmaṇas). Quant à soi, qu’on ne prenne que la kṛśarā (mets simple de riz et de légumineuses), et cela seul, en maîtrisant sa parole.

Word by Word

• तिल-दर्भ-अम्बुभिः: with sesame, darbha grass, and water
• तिल-दर्भ-अम्बुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) — ‘with sesame, darbha-grass, and water’

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be performed’

• तर्पणम्: libation (tarpana)
• तर्पणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• द्विज-भोजनम्: feeding of brāhmaṇas
• द्विज-भोजनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य/द्विजानां भोजनम्)

• कृशर-अन्नम्: kṛśara food (rice-gruel/khichdi)
• कृशर-अन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृशर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कृशरारूपम् अन्नम्)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मार्थक/स्वकृत्य-निर्देशक (oneself)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), ‘also/even’

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अश्नीत: should eat
• अश्नीत: विधेयक्रिया (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाचा यतः = ‘restrained in speech’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a prescriptive, dharma-ritual register)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Yama-tarpaṇa (rite; continuing procedure)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Darbha
• Til(a)
• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes a complete ritual ethic: satisfy the unseen (tarpaṇa with tila and darbha), serve the worthy in society (feeding dvijas), and purify oneself through simplicity of diet and restraint of speech—linking outer rite with inner discipline.

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

Although framed as ritual instruction, the verse supports bhakti by cultivating humility, self-control, and reverence—qualities that stabilize devotional practice and make offerings (tarpaṇa, charity, and food discipline) spiritually effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is foregrounded: the correct materials for tarpaṇa (tila, darbha, water), the ancillary duty of brāhmaṇa-feeding, and vrata-style restraints such as limited diet and vāg-yama (controlled speech).