Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

मार्गशुक्लदशम्यां तु चरेदारोग्यकं व्रतम् । गंधाद्यैरर्चयेद्विप्रान् दश तच्चरणोदकम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaśukladaśamyāṃ tu caredārogyakaṃ vratam | gaṃdhādyairarcayedviprān daśa taccaraṇodakam || 48 ||

Translation

മാർഗശീർഷ ശുക്ല ദശമിയിൽ ആരോഗ്യക വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ മുതലായവ കൊണ്ട് പത്തു ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ പൂജിച്ച്, അവരുടെ ചരണോദകം പത്തുതവണ ഭക്തിയോടെ സ്വീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• mārga-śukla-daśamyām: on the bright tenth of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārga-śukla-daśamyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (मार्ग-प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (शुक्ल-प्रातिपदिक) + daśamī (दशमी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; compound denoting calendrical date: ‘on the tenth (daśamī) of the bright fortnight (śukla) of Mārgaśīrṣa (mārga)’

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• caret: should observe/practise
• caret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर्-धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ārogyakam: for health
• ārogyakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārogya (आरोग्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with vratam

• vratam: vow/observance
• vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (व्रत-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• gaṃdha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gaṃdha-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃdha (गन्ध-प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः ‘fragrance etc.’

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (अर्च्-धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative not required (simple ‘should worship’)

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (विप्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (दशन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Accusative, Plural (understood with viprān)

• tat-caraṇa-udakam: water from their feet (pādodaka)
• tat-caraṇa-udakam: Karma (कर्म; object—take/receive implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्-सर्वनाम) + caraṇa (चरण-प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (उदक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘water of their feet’ (caraṇodaka) with pronoun tat ‘their/that’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ārogyaka vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Mārgaśīrṣa (lunar month)
• Daśamī (tithi)

FAQs

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

It teaches a dharmic method for securing well-being (ārogya) through a timed vow (vrata) and respectful service to brāhmaṇas, treating such honoring as a meritorious, purifying act.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverent worship and humble service—offering gandha and related pūjā-items and accepting caraṇodaka as a sanctifying blessing—linking inner devotion with disciplined ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and time-reckoning through tithi and lunar month (Daśamī in Mārgaśīrṣa) are emphasized, showing how observances are scheduled and performed with prescribed counts (ten brāhmaṇas, tenfold caraṇodaka).