Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

राजा पुरोधसा सार्धं मंत्रिभृत्यपरः सरः । पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं नीरज्य स्वयमादरात् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

rājā purodhasā sārdhaṃ maṃtribhṛtyaparaḥ saraḥ | pūjayitvā yathānyāyaṃ nīrajya svayamādarāt || 46 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം രാജാവ്—പുരോഹിതനോടൊപ്പം, മന്ത്രിമാരും ഭൃത്യരും ചുറ്റിനിൽക്കെ—വിധിപ്രകാരം പൂജ നടത്തി, സ്വയം ആദരഭക്തിയോടെ നീരാജനം (ആരതി) ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• पुरोधसा: with the priest
• पुरोधसा: सह (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सहार्थे तृतीया

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: सह (Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning ‘together with’)

• मन्त्रि-भृत्य-परः: attentive to ministers and servants
• मन्त्रि-भृत्य-परः: विशेषण (Qualifier of राजा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रिभृत्येषु परः—‘devoted/attentive to ministers and servants’)

• सरः: excellent/noble
• सरः: विशेषण (Qualifier of राजा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रशस्त/श्रेष्ठार्थे)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having worshipped/honoured’

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to proper procedure
• यथा-न्यायम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययभावेन प्रयोगः (adverbial: ‘according to rule’)

• नीरज्य: having performed nīrājana
• नीरज्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नीरज्/नीराज् (धातु; denominative from नीराजन)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having performed nīrājana (waving of lights)’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic/reflexive adverb)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Anukramanika context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• King
• Purohita (royal priest)
• Ministers
• Servants

FAQs

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

It highlights that devotion is strengthened when worship is done with both inner reverence (ādarāt) and outer correctness (yathā-nyāyam), showing that dharmic order and heartfelt bhakti support each other.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through personal participation (svayam) and respectful service—worship culminating in nīrājana—indicating that even a king’s authority is subordinated to humble devotional action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The phrase yathā-nyāyam points to adherence to ritual procedure aligned with Kalpa (rules of rites) and correct liturgical performance, typically guided by the purohita.