Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

क्षीरसिक्तान्नसंबद्धं मोदकं प्रस्थसंमितम् । द्विजाय दत्वा भोज्यान्यान्सप्ताष्टभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

kṣīrasiktānnasaṃbaddhaṃ modakaṃ prasthasaṃmitam | dvijāya datvā bhojyānyānsaptāṣṭabhyaśca dakṣiṇām || 53 ||

Translation

പാലിൽ നനച്ച അന്നം ചേർത്ത് ഒരു പ്രസ്ഥ അളവുള്ള മോദകം തയ്യാറാക്കി ഒരു ദ്വിജന് ദാനം ചെയ്യണം. കൂടാതെ ഏഴ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ എട്ട് ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു മറ്റു ഭോജ്യങ്ങളും ദക്ഷിണയും നൽകണം.

Word by Word

• क्षीरसिक्तान्नसंबद्धम्: made with rice mixed/sprinkled with milk
• क्षीरसिक्तान्नसंबद्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of मोदकम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + सिक्त + अन्न + संबद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कृदन्त: सिक्त (क्त, √सिच् ‘sprinkled’), संबद्ध (क्त, √बन्ध् with सम् ‘connected/mixed’); समासार्थः: क्षीरेण सिक्तम् अन्नम् तेन संबद्धम् (milk-sprinkled rice-mixture)

• मोदकम्: sweet ball (modaka)
• मोदकम्: कर्म (Object to be given)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रस्थसंमितम्: measured to a prastha
• प्रस्थसंमितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of मोदकम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्थ + संमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कृदन्त: संमित (क्त, √मा ‘measured’ with सम्); समास: प्रस्थ-संमित = ‘measured as one prastha’

• द्विजाय: to a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Adverbial gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: दा ‘to give’; ‘having given’

• भोज्यान्: foods (edibles)
• भोज्यान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘edibles/food items’

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; modifies भोज्यान्

• सप्ताष्टभ्यः: from seven or eight (persons)
• सप्ताष्टभ्यः: निर्देश/परिमाण (Quantificational)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान) बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: सप्त + अष्ट = ‘seven and eight’ → ‘from seven or eight (persons)’ (idiomatic distributive)

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

• दक्षिणाम्: a priestly fee/gift
• दक्षिणाम्: कर्म (Object—fee/gift)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-ritual context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Abhaya-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion and merit in a rite are completed through correct offering (naivedya), feeding (bhojana), and honoring the worthy with dakṣiṇā—linking inner faith with outward dharmic generosity.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through prayer but through respectful service—offering sanctified food and supporting dharmic persons—so the worship becomes compassionate and socially sustaining.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision is shown through the use of a standard measure (prastha) and prescribed distribution (to seven or eight), reflecting applied Kalpa (ritual procedure) and traditional standards for dana and hospitality.