Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

सवत्सां दापयेद्विप्र सम्यग्वेदविदे शुभाम् । संभोज्य विप्रान्मिष्टान्नैर्द्वादशाथ त्रयोदश ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

savatsāṃ dāpayedvipra samyagvedavide śubhām | saṃbhojya viprānmiṣṭānnairdvādaśātha trayodaśa || 81 ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ, ਬੱਛੜੇ ਸਮੇਤ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਵੇਦ-ਵਿਦ ਯੋਗ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਨ ਕਰੇ। ਫਿਰ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿੱਠੇ ਅੰਨ ਨਾਲ ਭੋਜਨ ਕਰਵਾ ਕੇ ਬਾਰ੍ਹਵੀਂ ਅਤੇ ਤੇਰ੍ਹਵੀਂ ਵਿਧੀਆਂ ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• सवत्साम्: with her calf
• सवत्साम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सहवत्स) qualifying धेनु (understood)

• दापयेत्: should have (it) given
• दापयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should cause to be given / should give (through someone)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; vocative address

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण; properly, duly

• वेदविदे: to a knower of the Veda
• वेदविदे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; dative singular; तत्पुरुष (वेदं वेत्ति) = knower of the Veda

• शुभाम्: auspicious, excellent
• शुभाम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying (धेनुम् understood)

• संभोज्य: having entertained (fed)
• संभोज्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययकृदन्त; having fed/entertained

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; object of संभोज्य

• मिष्टान्नैः: with sweet foods
• मिष्टान्नैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट-अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; karmadhāraya (मिष्टं च तत् अन्नम्) = sweet food; instrumental plural

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: विशेषण (Numerical qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral) used adverbially/elliptically; twelve (persons/days etc. implied)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक; then/next

• त्रयोदश: thirteen
• त्रयोदश: विशेषण (Numerical qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रयोदश (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral) used adverbially/elliptically; thirteen (implied count)

Speaker

Narada (in instructional discourse, as part of ritual/summary prescriptions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches dharmic completion of a rite through two core acts: dāna (gifting an auspicious cow with calf to a qualified Veda-knower) and brāhmaṇa-bhojana (reverential feeding), which sanctify and “seal” the observance.

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

Though framed as ritual, it supports bhakti through seva: honoring Veda-knowing brāhmaṇas and offering with purity and generosity, which are classical devotional dispositions aligned with Vaiṣṇava dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied—proper eligibility (a samyag-veda-vit recipient), correct sequencing (dāna then bhojana), and observance-counting (twelfth and thirteenth rites).