Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

गन्धाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु पूजयित्वा विधानतः । घटे मंगलपट्टे वा भोजयेद्द्विजदंपती ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

gandhādyairupacāraistu pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ | ghaṭe maṃgalapaṭṭe vā bhojayeddvijadaṃpatī || 70 ||

Translation

เมื่อบูชาตามบทบัญญัติด้วยเครื่องสักการะ เช่น ของหอมและอุปจาระทั้งหลายแล้ว พึงถวายภัตตาหารแก่พราหมณ์สามีภรรยา ณ เบื้องหน้าหม้อน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (ฆฏะ) หรือเบื้องหน้าผ้ามงคล (มงคลปัฏฏะ)

Word by Word

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with incense and the like
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Instrumental plural (तृतीया बहुवचन); ‘with incense etc.’ (आदि-तत्पुरुष)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Instrumental plural (तृतीया बहुवचन)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात), emphasis/contrast

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) ‘having worshipped’

• vidhānataḥ: according to prescription
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभाव); ‘according to rule’

• ghaṭe: in/on a pot (ritual vessel)
• ghaṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Locative singular (सप्तमी एकवचन)

• maṃgala-paṭṭe: on an auspicious cloth
• maṃgala-paṭṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃgala + paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Locative singular (सप्तमी एकवचन); ‘auspicious cloth/band’ (कर्मधारय)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) (causative √bhuj→bhōjay-)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative); Parasmaipada; 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन); Causative (णिच्) ‘should cause to eat/feed’

• dvija-daṃpatī: the brāhmaṇa husband and wife
• dvija-daṃpatī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + daṃpatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Accusative dual (द्वितीया द्विवचन); ‘the brāhmaṇa couple’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: dvija as qualifier)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/ritual context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: unspecified (continuation of the Anaṅga/Trayodaśī rite context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship becomes complete through proper honouring (satkāra) and nourishment of worthy recipients—here a dvija couple—performed according to vidhi, making the rite auspicious and dharmic.

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

Bhakti is expressed as reverent service: offering gandha and other upacāras with care, and then serving food as an act of sacred hospitality, treating the rite itself as worship through respectful conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): doing actions vidhānataḥ (as prescribed), using standard ritual supports like the ghaṭa/kalasha and auspicious seating/cloth (maṅgala-paṭṭa) during prescribed feeding (bhojana).