Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 108

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

सर्वसौख्यप्रदं शश्वत्सर्वभोगपरायणम् । सर्वतीर्थफलं विप्र तां चोपोष्याप्नुयान्नरः ॥ १०८ ॥

Transliteration

sarvasaukhyapradaṃ śaśvatsarvabhogaparāyaṇam | sarvatīrthaphalaṃ vipra tāṃ copoṣyāpnuyānnaraḥ || 108 ||

Translation

Wahai brāhmaṇa, observans itu sentiasa menganugerahkan segala kebahagiaan, membawa kepada kenikmatan berkat yang sah; dan memberikan pahala seumpama hasil semua ziarah tirtha suci. Dengan berpuasa (upavāsa) untuknya, seseorang memperoleh buah tersebut.

Word by Word

• सर्वसौख्यप्रदम्: granting all happiness
• सर्वसौख्यप्रदम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-सौख्य-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + सौख्य + प्रद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of the deity/vrata)

• शश्वत्: always
• शश्वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; नित्यत्ववाचकं क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb ‘always’)

• सर्वभोगपरायणम्: devoted to/abounding in all enjoyments
• सर्वभोगपरायणम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भोग-परायण (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भोग + परायण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्वतीर्थफलम्: the fruit of all pilgrimages
• सर्वतीर्थफलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; as ‘attains the fruit’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-तीर्थ-फल (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + तीर्थ + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; फल-शब्दः (result/fruit)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• ताम्: that (observance/day)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (refers to the tithi/vrata)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपवस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्ययीभावः (gerund/absolutive), ‘having fasted’

• आप्नुयात्: should obtain
• आप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue framed with the Sanatkumara tradition in Book 1.4 summaries)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jayā/Vijayā context (the observance being discussed; not re-named in this verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It elevates fasting/vrata as a concentrated dharmic act whose merit equals extensive pilgrimage, presenting self-restraint as a direct means to lasting well-being and religious fruit.

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

By praising an observance that is ‘ever’ beneficial and grants sacred merit, the verse supports bhakti’s practical discipline—devotion expressed through vows, fasting, and regulated living aligned to sacred intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the act of upoṣa (fasting) as a rule-based observance with stated results (phala), a core feature of vrata-vidhi and dharmaśāstric procedure.