Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पालय त्वं जगत्कृत्स्नं यतोऽसि धर्मसम्भवा । इत्युक्त्वा वेदविदुषे दत्त्वा कृत्वा च दक्षिणाम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pālaya tvaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ yato'si dharmasambhavā | ityuktvā vedaviduṣe dattvā kṛtvā ca dakṣiṇām || 42 ||

Translation

“സകല ലോകത്തെയും നീ സംരക്ഷിക്ക; നീ ധർമ്മത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ചതാകുന്നു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞ്, വേദവിദ്വാനെ യഥോചിത ദക്ഷിണ നൽകി സമർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पालय: protect
• पालय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: पाल् (to protect)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• जगत्-कृत्स्नम्: the whole world
• जगत्-कृत्स्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: कृत्स्नं जगत् (the entire world)

• यतः: since/because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थे (causal/relative adverb: since/because)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: अस् (to be)

• धर्म-सम्भवा: born of dharma
• धर्म-सम्भवा: Predicative (विधेय/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: धर्मस्य सम्भवः/सम्भवा (born of dharma)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyasaṃjñā (उद्धरण-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: वच्; अर्थे: उक्त्वा (having said)

• वेद-विदुषे: to the Veda-knower
• वेद-विदुषे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदान् वेत्ति इति (knower of the Veda)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: दा; अर्थे: दानं कृत्वा (having given)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: कृ; अर्थे: कृत्वा (having done/made)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दक्षिणाम्: the priestly fee/gift
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Anukramanika-style summary context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Veda
• Vedavid (knower of the Veda)
• Dakshina (ritual fee)

FAQs

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

It links worldly governance to Dharma: one who is “born of Dharma” must uphold and protect the entire world, and must also honor Vedic learning through proper ritual gifts (dakṣiṇā).

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

While not explicitly naming a deity, it reflects bhakti-informed dharma: reverence for Veda and its custodians, humility in giving, and protecting beings as a sacred duty—conduct that supports devotional life and divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual propriety (kalpa-oriented practice): completing rites with the prescribed dakṣiṇā to the vedavid, emphasizing correct performance and honoring Vedic expertise.