Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र वत्सयुतां गां तु समालिख्य सुगंधिभिः । चंदनाद्यैस्तथा पुष्पमालाभिः प्रार्च्य ताम्रके ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tatra vatsayutāṃ gāṃ tu samālikhya sugaṃdhibhiḥ | caṃdanādyaistathā puṣpamālābhiḥ prārcya tāmrake || 28 ||

Translation

അവിടെ കിടാവോടുകൂടിയ പശുവിന്റെ ചിത്രം വരച്ച് താമ്രപാത്രത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം; തുടർന്ന് ചന്ദനാദി സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങളും പുഷ്പമാലകളും കൊണ്ട് അവളെ പൂജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• वत्सयुताम्: accompanied by a calf
• वत्सयुताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘वत्सेन युता’ = accompanied by a calf; qualifying गाम्

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

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

• समालिख्य: having drawn/depicted
• समालिख्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) [upasarga: सम्- + आ-]
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having drawn/inscribed’; with prefixes सम्-आ-

• सुगन्धिभिः: with fragrant substances
• सुगन्धिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) (also used as adj.), Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• चन्दनाद्यैः: with sandalwood and the like
• चन्दनाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘चन्दनम् आदि येषाम्’ = sandalwood etc.

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (निपात) meaning ‘thus/also’

• पुष्पमालाभिः: with flower garlands
• पुष्पमालाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘पुष्पाणां माला’ = garlands of flowers

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) [upasarga: प्र-]
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’; with prefix प्र-

• ताम्रके: in a copper vessel/plate
• ताम्रके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in/on a copper vessel/plate’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure in dialogue tradition; commonly transmitted via Suta)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Govatsa-Dvādaśī-vrata (procedure detail)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gau (Cow)
• Vatsa (Calf)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes reverential worship through sacred symbolism: depicting the cow-with-calf and honoring it with purity items (fragrance, sandalwood, garlands) reflects dharma, auspiciousness, and gratitude toward life-sustaining forces.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive upacāra (devotional offerings): creating a respectful sacred form and worshipping it with pleasing, pure substances trains the mind toward reverence and disciplined devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/vidhi) is implicit: the verse gives procedural steps—iconic depiction, proper material (tāmraka/copper), and prescribed offerings (candana, sugandha, puṣpamālā)—typical of vrata and pūjā manuals.