Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

कृतोपवासो वैकाशी निशीथेऽपूपकादिभिः । दशदिक्षु बलिं दद्याद् गृहद्वापि पुराद्ब्रहिः ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtopavāso vaikāśī niśīthe'pūpakādibhiḥ | daśadikṣu baliṃ dadyād gṛhadvāpi purādbrahiḥ || 32 ||

Translation

ഉപവാസം പൂർത്തിയാക്കി രാത്രി ജാഗരണം ചെയ്ത്, അർദ്ധരാത്രിയിൽ അപ്പൂപം മുതലായവകൊണ്ട് പത്ത് ദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും ബലി അർപ്പിക്കണം—വീട്ടുവാതിലിൽ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പട്ടണത്തിന് പുറത്തായി.

Word by Word

• कृतोपवासः: having observed a fast
• कृतोपवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-उपवास (प्रातिपदिक; कृत = कृ √कृ धातु, उपवास = उपवास प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कृतः उपवासः यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• वैकाशी: (the observance called) Vaikāśī
• वैकाशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकाशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); likely name of a rite/observance (व्रत/पूजा)

• निशीथे: at midnight
• निशीथे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशीथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular)

• अपूपकादिभिः: with cakes and the like
• अपूपकादिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूपक-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अपूपकाः आदयः येषु/अपूपकादयः), पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• दशदिक्षु: in the ten directions
• दशदिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश-दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (दश दिशः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem; दिश्), सप्तमी (locative), बहुवचन (plural)

• बलिम्: an offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• दद्यात्: should offer/give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• गृहद्वा: at the house-door
• गृहद्वा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह-द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (गृहस्य द्वारम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular); पदरूपम्: गृहद्वारे (sandhi/orthographic contraction in text)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• पुरात्: from the town
• पुरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन (singular)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Deśādhi karaṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: outside)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara tradition/dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sārvabhauma-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vrata is completed not only by fasting but also by disciplined night-vigil and a respectful offering to the cosmic directions/guardians, harmonizing one’s household space with dharmic order.

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

By prescribing wakeful remembrance and humble offerings after fasting, it frames devotion as steady practice—self-restraint (upavāsa) joined with reverent giving (bali) as an act of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual timing and procedure are emphasized—especially niśītha (midnight) observance and dik-bali (directional offering), reflecting applied kalpa/ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.