Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

श्वेतद्वीपगतिं दद्याद्देहभोगांश्च वांछितान् । कार्तिके कृष्णपक्षे तु गोवत्सद्वादशीव्रतम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

śvetadvīpagatiṃ dadyāddehabhogāṃśca vāṃchitān | kārtike kṛṣṇapakṣe tu govatsadvādaśīvratam || 27 ||

Translation

കാർത്തിക മാസത്തിലെ കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷത്തിൽ ആചരിക്കുന്ന ഗോവത്സ-ദ്വാദശി വ്രതം ശ്വേതദ്വീപഗതി നൽകുകയും, ദേഹധാരിജീവിതത്തിലെ ആഗ്രഹിത ഭോഗസുഖങ്ങളും പ്രദാനം ചെയ്യുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു।

Word by Word

• श्वेतद्वीपगतिम्: passage to Śvetadvīpa
• श्वेतद्वीपगतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेतद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘श्वेतद्वीपस्य गतिः’ = going to Śvetadvīpa

• दद्यात्: would give/bestow
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• देहभोगान्: bodily enjoyments
• देहभोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘देहस्य भोगाः’ = bodily enjoyments

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• वाञ्छितान्: desired
• वाञ्छितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (प्रातिपदिक) < वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying देहभोगान्

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th), Singular; month-name

• कृष्णपक्षे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्णपक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘कृष्णः पक्षः’ (karmadhāraya-like within) = dark fortnight

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• गोवत्सद्वादशीव्रतम्: the Go-vatsa Dvādaśī vow
• गोवत्सद्वादशीव्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म) (context-dependent, as heading of rite)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘गोवत्स-नाम्नी द्वादशी’ + व्रतम् = vow of the Go-vatsa Dvādaśī

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada Purana’s vrata-summary context; traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage teachings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Govatsa-Dvādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śvetadvīpa
• Kārttika
• Kṛṣṇapakṣa
• Govatsa-Dvādaśī

FAQs

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

It states the phala (result) of observing Govatsa-Dvādaśī in Kārttika’s kṛṣṇapakṣa: it leads to Śvetadvīpa-gati and also yields desired embodied enjoyments, presenting the vow as both spiritually elevating and materially supportive.

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

By linking a Dvādaśī vrata (typically associated with Viṣṇu-oriented observance) to Śvetadvīpa attainment, the verse frames disciplined devotional practice—time-bound and vow-based—as a concrete means to divine proximity and grace-bestowed results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa-style calendrical timing are implicit: the verse specifies the month (Kārttika), lunar fortnight (kṛṣṇapakṣa), and tithi (Dvādaśī), showing how correct ritual timing is integral to vrata performance and its stated fruits.