Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा विधानेन गृह्णोयाद्वार्षिकव्रतम् । पीत्वा गश्रृंगवार्यादौ तां च कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

snātvā vidhānena gṛhṇoyādvārṣikavratam | pītvā gaśrṛṃgavāryādau tāṃ ca kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam || 77 ||

Translation

Setelah mandi menurut tata cara yang ditetapkan, hendaklah seseorang mengambil vrata tahunan. Kemudian, setelah meneguk air suci terlebih dahulu—seperti air dari Gaśṛṅga—hendaklah ia juga melakukan pradakṣiṇa, mengelilingi tempat suci itu dengan hormat.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), √स्ना (to bathe)

• vidhānena: according to the prescribed procedure
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• gṛhṇoyāt: should undertake/take up
• gṛhṇoyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; √ग्रह् (to take/undertake)

• vārṣika-vratam: the annual vow
• vārṣika-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārṣika (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (annual vow)

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), √पा (to drink)

• gaśrṛṃga-vāri: water of Gaśṛṅga (holy water)
• gaśrṛṃga-vāri: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaśrṛṃga (प्रातिपदिक) + vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘gaśrṛṃga’ (name of tīrtha/holy place; reading uncertain) + vāri (water)

• ādau: at the beginning/first
• ādau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial locative): ‘at first/at the beginning’

• tām: that (her/it)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), √कृ (to do)

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष-नाम (act of circumambulation)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: vārṣika-vrata (annual vow; generic label in the verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Gaśṛṅga

FAQs

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

It teaches that vrata is not merely intention but a disciplined sādhana: purification by prescribed bathing, sanctification by sipping holy water, and devotion expressed through pradakṣiṇā of the sacred locus.

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

Bhakti is shown through embodied reverence—approaching a sacred place properly, honoring its tīrtha-water, and circumambulating it—acts that cultivate humility and remembrance of the divine associated with the tīrtha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized: vidhi-based snāna, the correct sequence of sipping holy water (ācamanā-like act), and the rite of pradakṣiṇā as part of vrata observance.