Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यामर्चयेद्भक्तया वासुदेवं सनातनम् । उपचारैः षोडशभिस्ततः संभोज्य बांधवान् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāmarcayedbhaktayā vāsudevaṃ sanātanam | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhistataḥ saṃbhojya bāṃdhavān || 6 ||

Translation

ในวันทวาทศี พึงบูชาวาสุเทวะผู้เป็นนิรันดร์ด้วยภักติ โดยอุปจาระสิบหกประการ; แล้วจึงเลี้ยงอาหารแก่ญาติพี่น้อง

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvadashi (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• वासुदेवम्: Vasudeva (Vishnu/Krishna)
• वासुदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वासुदेवम् इति विशेषणम्

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen (types)
• षोडशभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः नपुंसक/पुं), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपचारैः इति विशेषणम्

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb), क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• सम्भोज्य: having fed
• सम्भोज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भोज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: सम्+भोज् (causative sense in usage: ‘to feed’), अर्थ: सम्यक् भोजयित्वा/भोजितव्यान् कृत्वा (having fed)

• बान्धवान्: kinsmen, relatives
• बान्धवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi/Dvadashi observance (continuation; Dvādaśī arcana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links Dvādaśī observance to two core duties: devoted worship of Vāsudeva through complete ritual honors (ṣoḍaśopacāra) and dharmic sharing of merit through feeding one’s family, integrating bhakti with social responsibility.

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

Bhakti is shown as both inner devotion (bhaktyā) and outward reverence expressed through proper worship of the Lord as “sanātana,” indicating steadfast devotion that is enacted through consistent, respectful practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual discipline and calendrical observance—knowing the tithi (Dvādaśī) and performing formal upacāras—skills aligned with traditional ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) used in vrata and pūjā contexts.