Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

दक्षिणां वेदविदुषे व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे । एवं पूजाविशेषेण व्रतं स्यात्सौरिसंज्ञकम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāṃ vedaviduṣe vratasaṃpūrtihetave | evaṃ pūjāviśeṣeṇa vrataṃ syātsaurisaṃjñakam || 12 ||

Translation

వ్రత సంపూర్తి కోసం వేదవిద్వాంసునికి దక్షిణ ఇవ్వాలి. ఈ ప్రత్యేక పూజావిధానంతో ఈ వ్రతం ‘సౌరి-వ్రతం’ అనే పేరుతో ప్రసిద్ధమవుతుంది।

Word by Word

• दक्षिणाम्: fee, honorarium (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वेद: Veda
• वेद: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• विदुषे: to the learned (knower)
• विदुषे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘learned man’

• व्रत: vow, observance
• व्रत: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे समासपूर्वपद; (compound member)

• संपूर्ति: completion, fulfillment
• संपूर्ति: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃpūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• हेतवे: for the purpose/cause
• हेतवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): प्रकार (‘thus/in this manner’)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• विशेषेण: by a special procedure
• विशेषेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: the vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be, should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सौरि: Śauri (an epithet of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• सौरि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद (compound member); ‘of Sūri/Śauri (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)’

• संज्ञकम्: named, designated as
• संज्ञकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामधारक (‘having the designation’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sauri-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sauri

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow is perfected not only by personal discipline but also by dharmic completion-acts—especially honoring Vedic knowledge through dakṣiṇā—so the vrata becomes ritually and ethically complete.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent worship (pūjā-viśeṣa) joined with humble giving; devotion is made concrete by honoring those who preserve and transmit Vedic sacred learning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual pragmatics are emphasized: the correct completion (saṃpūrti) of a vrata includes prescribed dāna/dakṣiṇā to qualified Veda-knowers, reflecting applied dharma and pūjā-vidhi.