Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

अपूपविंशतिं दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय सदक्षिणम् । देवदेव जगन्नात प्रसीद परमेश्वर ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

apūpaviṃśatiṃ dattvā brāhmaṇāya sadakṣiṇam | devadeva jagannāta prasīda parameśvara || 55 ||

Translation

Setelah memberikan dua puluh apūpa (kuih korban) kepada seorang brāhmaṇa beserta dakṣiṇā yang wajar, hendaklah berdoa: “Wahai Dewa segala dewa, wahai Jagannātha, berkenanlah; wahai Parameśvara, redhailah.”

Word by Word

• अपूप-विंशतिम्: twenty apūpa-cakes
• अपूप-विंशतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक) + विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): ‘अपूपानां विंशतिः’ = twenty cakes; object of ‘दत्त्वा’

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having given’

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular ‘to a Brahmin’

• स-दक्षिणम्: together with a priestly fee
• स-दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/उपपद: ‘दक्षिणया सह’ = with fee; qualifies the gift (अपूपविंशतिम्)

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘देवानां देवः’ (O god of gods)

• जगत्-नाथ: O Lord of the world
• जगत्-नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जगतः नाथः’ (lord of the world)

• प्रसीद: be gracious
• प्रसीद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘be pleased’

• परम-ईश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परमः ईश्वरः’ (supreme lord)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the approved form of dāna and prayer within a vrata/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Traivikrama-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Jagannatha
• Deva-deva
• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It links dāna (charitable gifting) done correctly—specifically feeding a brāhmaṇa with dakṣiṇā—to direct devotional surrender, concluding the act with a heartfelt prayer for the Lord’s grace.

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

Bhakti is shown as action plus remembrance: the external offering (apūpa and dakṣiṇā) is completed by inward devotion, addressing the Lord as Deva-deva and Jagannātha and seeking His prasāda (pleasure/grace).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style procedure) is implied: proper recipients (brāhmaṇa), correct offering items (apūpa), and the indispensable dakṣiṇā—showing how acts are made ritually complete and meritorious.