Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां मार्गशुक्लायां साध्यव्रतमनुत्तमम् । मनोभवस्तथा प्राणो नरो यातश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ mārgaśuklāyāṃ sādhyavratamanuttamam | manobhavastathā prāṇo naro yātaśca vīryavān || 51 ||

Translation

മാർഗശീർഷ ശുക്ല ദ്വാദശിയിൽ ‘സാധ്യവ്രതം’ എന്ന അനുത്തമ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; അതിലൂടെ മനോഭവൻ, പ്രാണൻ, നരൻ, വീര്യവാനായ യാതൻ (ദേവൻ) പ്രസന്നരാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the twelfth lunar day
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तिथि-नाम

• मार्गशुक्लायाम्: in the bright fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्गशुक्लायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग + शुक्ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मार्गशीर्षस्य शुक्ला [पक्षः])

• साध्यव्रतम्: the Sādhya-vow/rite
• साध्यव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (साध्यानां व्रतम् / साध्य-सम्बद्धं व्रतम्)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of साध्यव्रतम्)

• मनोभवः: Manobhava (Kāma)
• मनोभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मनसः भवः)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम-अर्थे (also/likewise)

• प्राणः: Prāṇa (life-breath)
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नरः: Nara (a deity/person)
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यातः: gone
• यातः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (नरः) यातः = gone

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• वीर्यवान्: powerful; possessing vigor
• वीर्यवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of नरः)

Speaker

Narada (in a teaching/narrative summary addressed within the Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sādhya-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Manobhava
• Prana
• Nara
• Yata

FAQs

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

It elevates Dvādaśī in the bright fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa as a specifically empowered time for an excellent vrata (Sādhya-vrata), linking correct sacred timing with definite spiritual attainments/propitiations.

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

By prescribing a vrata on a sacred tithi, it frames devotion as disciplined worship expressed through time-bound observance—typical of Purāṇic bhakti where faith is enacted through vrata, purity, and offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on Jyotiṣa-style calendrics: identifying the precise tithi (Dvādaśī) and pakṣa/month (Mārgaśīrṣa, śukla) for ritual performance—key practical knowledge for correct vrata timing.