Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कर्तव्यं विप्रवर्गं च भोजयेन्मिष्टपक्वकैः । तर्पणं च गवां ग्रासं बलिं चैव श्वकाकयोः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

kartavyaṃ vipravargaṃ ca bhojayenmiṣṭapakvakaiḥ | tarpaṇaṃ ca gavāṃ grāsaṃ baliṃ caiva śvakākayoḥ || 41 ||

Translation

വിധിപൂർവ്വം ബ്രാഹ്മണസംഘത്തെ മധുരവും നന്നായി പാകം ചെയ്തതുമായ ഭോജനത്തോടെ സത്കരിച്ച് ഭക്ഷിപ്പിക്കണം; തർപ്പണം ചെയ്യണം, പശുക്കൾക്ക് ഗ്രാസം നൽകണം, നായക്കും കാക്കക്കും ബലി വെക്കണം।

Word by Word

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधिलिङ्गार्थक (to be done/should be done); used predicatively

• विप्र-वर्गम्: the group of Brahmins
• विप्र-वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘विप्राणां वर्गः’); Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोजय (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative (ṇic) ‘cause to eat/feed’

• मिष्ट-पक्वकैः: with sweet cooked foods
• मिष्ट-पक्वकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘मिष्टानि पक्वकानि’ = sweet cooked foods); Instrumental plural

• तर्पणम्: libation/satiation offering
• तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of cows)

• ग्रासम्: a mouthful (fodder)
• ग्रासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• बलिम्: an offering
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• श्व-काकयोः: of/for dogs and crows
• श्व-काकयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (‘श्वानौ च काकौ च’), Genitive dual (for dogs and crows)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmanas
• Cows
• Dogs
• Crows

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as inclusive ritual responsibility: honoring brāhmaṇas, satisfying pitṛs through tarpaṇa, serving cows, and sharing food through bali—cultivating gratitude, charity, and non-cruelty.

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

By turning everyday acts—feeding guests, offering tarpaṇa, and giving bali—into offerings done in a sacred spirit, it supports bhakti through disciplined, compassionate service aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: tarpaṇa and bali are standard śrauta/smārta ritual elements, indicating correct performance of prescribed offerings and orderly distribution of food as a dharmic practice.