Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

पूजयेद्गंधपुष्पाद्यैरेतांस्तंदुलकल्पितान् । ततो द्विजाग्र्यान्संभोज्य द्वादशात्र सुदक्षिणाः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

pūjayedgaṃdhapuṣpādyairetāṃstaṃdulakalpitān | tato dvijāgryānsaṃbhojya dvādaśātra sudakṣiṇāḥ || 53 ||

Translation

พึงบูชาสิ่งอุทิศที่ปั้นจากข้าวนี้ด้วยเครื่องหอม ดอกไม้ และอื่น ๆ; แล้วเลี้ยงพราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ จากนั้นถวายทักษิณาอันงามจำนวนสิบสองประการในพิธีนี้

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गन्धपुष्पाद्यैः: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• गन्धपुष्पाद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (गन्ध-पुष्प-आदि = perfumes, flowers, etc.)

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तण्डुलकल्पितान्: prepared with rice (grains)
• तण्डुलकल्पितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण of एतान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तण्डुल + कल्पित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (तण्डुलैः कल्पिताः = made/formed with rice grains)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• द्विजाग्र्यान्: the foremost brāhmaṇas
• द्विजाग्र्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजेषु अग्र्याः = foremost brāhmaṇas)

• सम्भोज्य: having fed (them)
• सम्भोज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having fed/after feeding)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (सुदक्षिणाः इत्यस्य) विशेषण; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे

• अत्र: here; in this context
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश-अर्थे (locative adverb: here/in this rite)

• सुदक्षिणाः: good/ample honoraria (dakṣiṇās)
• सुदक्षिणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-दक्षिणाः = good/ample fees)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sādhya-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames ritual worship as incomplete without charity: the offering of fragrance and flowers is followed by honoring learned brāhmaṇas through feeding and dakṣiṇā, linking devotion with dāna and social dharma.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through pūjā (reverent worship) and seva-like giving—devotion is ritualized as respectful offering and concluded by generous support of dharmic custodians (dvijāgryas).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure: prescribed upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, etc.), sequencing of acts, and the rule of dakṣiṇā—core practical knowledge for conducting a vrata or pūjā correctly.