Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

प्रस्थं तिलानां विप्राय दद्याद्वै मन्त्रपूर्वकम् । सदक्षिणं सवस्त्रंच सर्वपापविमुक्तये ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

prasthaṃ tilānāṃ viprāya dadyādvai mantrapūrvakam | sadakṣiṇaṃ savastraṃca sarvapāpavimuktaye || 34 ||

Translation

Untuk terbebas sepenuhnya daripada segala dosa, hendaklah seseorang mempersembahkan secara ritual kepada seorang brāhmaṇa satu sukatan prastha biji bijan, didahului mantra yang wajar, beserta dakṣiṇā (honorarium) dan pakaian.

Word by Word

• प्रस्थम्: a prastha-measure
• प्रस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (a measure)

• तिलानाम्: of sesame seeds
• तिलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• मन्त्र-पूर्वकम्: preceded by mantra-recitation
• मन्त्र-पूर्वकम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/रीति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रेण पूर्वकम् = preceded by mantra)

• स-दक्षिणम्: with a priestly fee
• स-दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणया सहितम् = with fee/donation)

• स-वस्त्रम्: with garments
• स-वस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रेण सहितम् = with cloth/garment)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सर्व-पाप-विमुक्तये: for freedom from all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विमुक्तये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां विमुक्तिः = liberation from all sins)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context, traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Tiladāna-vrata (sesame-gift observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

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

It teaches a specific prāyaścitta-dāna: offering sesame seeds with mantra, plus dakṣiṇā and clothing, as a dharmic means for sarva-pāpa-vimukti (release from accumulated sins).

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

While primarily a karma-kāṇḍa instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing purity and right conduct—ritual charity done with mantras and reverence prepares the mind for sustained Vishnu-bhakti and sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision is implied: using mantra correctly (linked to Śikṣā/Chandas in recitation practice) and the exact measurement “prastha” reflects procedural discipline typical of Vedic ritual culture.