Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अथो नभस्यशुक्लायां दशम्यां द्विजसत्तम । व्रतं दशावताराख्यं तत्र स्नानं जलाशये ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

atho nabhasyaśuklāyāṃ daśamyāṃ dvijasattama | vrataṃ daśāvatārākhyaṃ tatra snānaṃ jalāśaye || 14 ||

Translation

Kemudian, wahai yang terbaik antara kaum dwija, pada hari kesepuluh (Daśamī) paruh terang bulan Nabhasya (Bhādrapada), hendaklah diambil nazar yang dinamakan Daśāvatāra-vrata; dan pada ketika itu hendaklah mandi suci di takungan air.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• उ: indeed/also (emphasis)
• उ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; emphasis)

• नभसि: in Nabhas (month)
• नभसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular); अधिकरण (locative)

• शुक्लायाम्: in the bright (fortnight)
• शुक्लायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक (tithi-name)

• द्विजसत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानां सत्तमः)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• दशावताराख्यम्: named ‘Daśāvatāra’
• दशावताराख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + अवतार + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (दशावतार इति आख्यं यस्य)

• तत्र: there/therein
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियावाचक-नाम (act of bathing)

• जलाशये: in a water-reservoir (pond/lake)
• जलाशये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जलस्य आशयः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśāvatāra-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Daśāvatāra
• Bhādrapada (Nabhasya)
• Daśamī

FAQs

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

It fixes the auspicious time and basic rite for the Daśāvatāra-vrata, teaching that devotion to Viṣṇu’s avatāras begins with calendrical discipline (tithi) and ritual purification (snāna).

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

By prescribing a named vow centered on the Daśāvatāras, it channels bhakti into a structured observance—remembering Viṣṇu’s saving descents while performing purificatory acts that support worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical reckoning—month (Nabhasya/Bhādrapada), fortnight (śukla), and tithi (daśamī)—reflecting Jyotiṣa-style timing for ritual observances, along with basic vrata procedure (snāna).