Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

व्रतेनानेन देवेशः श्रीधरः प्रीयतामिति । द्वादश्यां नभस्यशुक्ले व्रती संपूज्य वामनम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

vratenānena deveśaḥ śrīdharaḥ prīyatāmiti | dvādaśyāṃ nabhasyaśukle vratī saṃpūjya vāmanam || 23 ||

Translation

“ขอพระศรีธร ผู้เป็นจอมเทพ โปรดพอพระทัยด้วยพรตนี้เถิด” เมื่ออธิษฐานดังนี้แล้ว ในวันทวาทศีข้างขึ้นเดือนนภัสยะ (ศราวณะ) ผู้ถือพรตพึงบูชาพระวามนะโดยครบถ้วนตามพิธี

Word by Word

• vratena: by this vow
• vratena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• anena: by this
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'vratena' इति विशेषणम् (instrumental: by this)

• deva-īśaḥ: Lord of the gods
• deva-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'देवानाम् ईशः'

• śrīdharaḥ: Śrīdhara
• śrīdharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'deveśaḥ' इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• prīyatām: may (he) be pleased
• prīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prī (धाातु)
• Form: लोट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थ (may he be pleased)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• nabhasya-śukle: in the bright fortnight of Nabhasya
• nabhasya-śukle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'नभस्य (मासस्य) शुक्लपक्षे'

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saṃpūjya: having worshipped
• saṃpūjya: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धाातु) [with sam-]
• Form: क्त्वा-समर्थ ल्यप् (gerund): 'सम्पूज्य' = having worshipped fully

• vāmanam: Vāmana
• vāmanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (Vāmana/Śrīdhara-pūjā; specific vrata-name not stated)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana
• Shridhara

FAQs

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

It frames the vrata as an offering of devotion whose aim is Viṣṇu’s pleasure—specifically Śrīdhara—achieved through timely worship of Vāmana on an auspicious lunar day.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as intentional, time-bound worship: the devotee performs a vow and dedicates its merit to pleasing the Lord, focusing the mind on Viṣṇu in the form of Vāmana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/astronomical timing (Jyotiṣa-based tithi observance) is implied: the rite is prescribed specifically for the bright-fortnight Dvādaśī in the month Nabhas, showing the ritual importance of correct lunar calendrics.