Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां कृष्णमभ्यर्चेद्गंधाद्यैरुपचारकैः । ततः संभोज्य विप्राग्र्यान्दत्वा तेभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ kṛṣṇamabhyarcedgaṃdhādyairupacārakaiḥ | tataḥ saṃbhojya viprāgryāndatvā tebhyaśca dakṣiṇām || 57 ||

Translation

ദ്വാദശിയിൽ ഗന്ധാദി ഉപചാരങ്ങളാൽ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനെ ആരാധിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരെ ആദരത്തോടെ ഭോജനിപ്പിച്ച് അവർക്കു ദക്ഷിണ നൽകണം.

Word by Word

• dvādaśyām: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (sg); kāla-adhikaraṇa (time-locative)

• kṛṣṇam: Krishna
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg)

• abhyarcet: should worship
• abhyarcet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Ekavacana (sg); parasmaipada

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with fragrances and the like
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (pl); ādi-śabda indicates ‘etc.’; karaṇa (instrument)

• upacārakaiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacārakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (pl); karaṇa (instrument)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (kramavācaka) ‘thereafter’

• saṃbhojya: having fed (honoured with food)
• saṃbhojya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष), ‘having fed/caused to eat’; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• vipra-agryān: the foremost brāhmaṇas
• vipra-agryān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (pl)

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having given’; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• tebhyaḥ: to them
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga (m.) (contextual), Caturthī vibhakti (4th/चतुर्थी), Bahuvacana (pl); sampradāna (recipient)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (samuccaya)

• dakṣiṇām: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg); dāna-karman (object of giving)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vrata is completed not only by personal worship of Kṛṣṇa but also by honoring dharma through feeding worthy brāhmaṇas and giving dakṣiṇā, integrating devotion with generosity.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through upacāra-pūjā—loving, tangible offerings like fragrance—followed by service to the Lord’s devotees (vipras), showing devotion as both worship and compassionate giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual procedure: timing the observance on Dvādaśī, using standard upacāras (worship-services), and concluding with brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dakṣiṇā as part of correct vrata-vidhi.