Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वं धेनुसहितमाचार्य्याय प्रदापयेत् । इदं कृत्वा व्रतं विप्र देव देवस्य शूलिनः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

tatsarvaṃ dhenusahitamācāryyāya pradāpayet | idaṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ vipra deva devasya śūlinaḥ || 26 ||

Translation

അത് എല്ലാം—പശുവോടുകൂടി—ആചാര്യന് സമർപ്പിക്കണം. ഹേ വിപ്രാ! ഇങ്ങനെ വ്രതം ചെയ്താൽ ദേവദേവനായ ശൂലിൻ (ശിവൻ) അനുഗ്രഹം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• धेनु-सहितम्: together with a cow
• धेनु-सहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वम्-विशेषणम्

• आचार्याय: to the teacher
• आचार्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• प्रदापयेत्: should give (as a gift)
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'should cause to be given/should give forth')

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; व्रतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'कृत्वा' इत्यस्य कर्म

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• देव: O god / O divine one
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; देवस्य इत्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (genitive apposition)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mauna-vrata (continuation/concluding gifting)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śūlin)
• Acharya (Ācārya)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that a vrata is completed not only by personal observance but also by dāna—specifically offering the prescribed items, including a cow, to one’s ācārya—thereby sanctifying the act and connecting it to the deity’s grace (here, Śiva as Śūlin).

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

It frames devotion as expressed through disciplined observance (vrata) and reverent offering to the guru; such humble completion of worship is presented as a means to win the favor of the God of gods, reinforcing bhakti through service and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and completion are highlighted: the rule of concluding a vow with dāna and honoring the ācārya (guru-dakṣiṇā), reflecting applied Kalpa (ritual praxis) and dharma-śāstra style guidance.