Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

समभ्यर्च्योपचारैस्तु गंधाद्यैः सुसमाहितः । तदग्रे भोजयेद्विप्रान्पक्वान्नेनार्कसंख्यकान् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

samabhyarcyopacāraistu gaṃdhādyaiḥ susamāhitaḥ | tadagre bhojayedviprānpakvānnenārkasaṃkhyakān || 36 ||

Translation

香などの供物をもって、心をよく整えつつ正しく礼拝したのち、その御前にて、煮炊きした食をもって婆羅門たちを、太陽の数に等しく（すなわち十二人）供養せよ。

Word by Word

• sam-abhyarcya: having duly worshipped
• sam-abhyarcya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + abhi + √arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय)

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘with perfumes etc.’

• su-samāhitaḥ: well-composed, attentive
• su-samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—implied ‘he’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय उपसर्ग) + samāhita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √dhā/धा with sam-; ‘collected’)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past participle used adjectivally; qualifies implied agent

• tat-agre: before it (before the deity)
• tat-agre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tat (प्रातिपदिक) + agre (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक from agra)
• Form: Adverbial compound (अव्ययीभाव), ‘in front of that (deity)’

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (भुज् धातु; causative)
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

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

• pakva-annena: with cooked food
• pakva-annena: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakva (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• arka-saṃkhyakān: twelve in number
• arka-saṃkhyakān: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying ‘viprān’; ‘equal in number to arka (12)’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dāmodara-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Surya)
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offering fragrances and formal upacāras, but also by compassionate service—feeding worthy brāhmaṇas—linking ritual purity with ethical generosity (annadāna).

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

Bhakti is expressed as attentive, composed worship (susamāhita) followed by honoring devotees/ritual representatives through feeding; devotion becomes tangible through service performed “in the presence” of the worship focus.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure): sequencing of upacāra-pūjā and brahmana-bhojana, and the use of sacred numerology (arka-saṅkhyā = twelve) typical of dharma-ritual prescriptions.