Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तावंतो वशदंडाश्च पवित्राण्यासनानि च । पात्राणि यज्ञसूत्राणि तावत्येव हि कल्पयेत् ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

tāvaṃto vaśadaṃḍāśca pavitrāṇyāsanāni ca | pātrāṇi yajñasūtrāṇi tāvatyeva hi kalpayet || 78 ||

Translation

അതേ എണ്ണത്തിൽ വശദണ്ഡങ്ങൾ, പവിത്രങ്ങൾ (കുശവളയം), ആസനങ്ങൾ, പാത്രങ്ങൾ, അതുപോലെ യജ്ഞസൂത്രങ്ങളും ഒരുക്കണം.

Word by Word

• tāvantaḥ: so many (as that number)
• tāvantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāvant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); संख्याविशेषण (quantifier)

• vaśa-daṃḍāḥ: vaśa-staffs (ritual sticks)
• vaśa-daṃḍāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• pavitrāṇi: purifiers (pavitra-rings/grass loops)
• pavitrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• āsanāni: seats
• āsanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• pātrāṇi: vessels
• pātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• yajña-sūtrāṇi: sacred threads (for sacrifice)
• yajña-sūtrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• tāvati: that many / to that extent
• tāvati: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); प्रमाण/परिमाणवाचक (measure: 'to that extent/that many')

• eva: exactly, indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक (particle: for/indeed)

• kalpayet: should prepare/arrange
• kalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Anukramanika-style ritual listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined preparedness in Vedic rites: purity and order are maintained by arranging the correct number of sanctifying and functional implements, supporting a focused, sattvic performance of dharma.

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

Though primarily ritual-technical, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching careful, reverent preparation—treating worship as sacred service (seva) where every item is respectfully arranged for the divine act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is foregrounded: the verse lists standardized yajña requisites—pavitra (kuśa ring), āsana (seat), pātra (vessels), and yajña-sūtra—indicating how ritual logistics are specified and counted.