Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तत्रोपवासो नक्तं वा द्विजानां भोजनं जपः । हेम्नो दान च धेन्वादेः सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tatropavāso naktaṃ vā dvijānāṃ bhojanaṃ japaḥ | hemno dāna ca dhenvādeḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 13 ||

Translation

അവിടെ ഉപവാസം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ രാത്രിയിൽ മാത്രം ഭക്ഷണം; ദ്വിജന്മാർക്ക് ഭോജനം നൽകൽ, ജപം; കൂടാതെ സ്വർണ്ണവും പശുവും മുതലായവ ദാനം—ഇവയെല്ലാം സർവ്വപാപനാശകരമെന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• tatra: there/on that occasion
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय (adverb) = ‘there/on that occasion’

• upavāsaḥ: fasting
• upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• naktam: at night (only)
• naktam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nakta (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb) ‘by night/at night’; नक्तभोजन-भावे (night-only eating)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• dvijānām: of brahmins
• dvijānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of brahmins/twice-born’

• bhojanam: feeding (meal)
• bhojanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘feeding/meal’ (here: feeding of brahmins)

• japaḥ: japa (recitation)
• japaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hemnaḥ: of gold
• hemnaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of gold’

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction) = ‘and’

• dhenu-ādeḥ: of cows and the like
• dhenu-ādeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘धेन्वादि’ = cow etc.; genitive ‘of cow etc.’ (i.e., gifts of cows etc.)

• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: destroyer of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासार्थः: ‘सर्वेषां पापानां प्रणाशनम्’—(these acts are) sin-destroying

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general Daśamī/vrata-associated austerities implied by context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

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

It presents a compact set of purificatory dharmic remedies—fasting, regulated eating, japa, and charitable giving—stating that these practices cleanse accumulated pāpa and restore ritual-spiritual purity.

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

By emphasizing japa (devotional repetition of a divine name or mantra) alongside self-restraint and charity, it frames bhakti as lived practice—inner remembrance supported by outward dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and prayāścitta logic are implied: regulated fasting (vrata), proper dāna, and japa as sanctioned means for purification—topics aligned with Kalpa/Vedic ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.