Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

प्रस्थं तिलानां विप्राय दद्याद्वै मन्त्रपूर्वकम् । सदक्षिणं सवस्त्रंच सर्वपापविमुक्तये ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

prasthaṃ tilānāṃ viprāya dadyādvai mantrapūrvakam | sadakṣiṇaṃ savastraṃca sarvapāpavimuktaye || 34 ||

Translation

เพื่อความพ้นจากบาปทั้งปวง พึงถวายเมล็ดงาหนึ่งปรัสถะแก่พราหมณ์โดยมีมนต์นำหน้า พร้อมทั้งทักษิณาและผ้านุ่งห่ม

Word by Word

• प्रस्थम्: a prastha-measure
• प्रस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (a measure)

• तिलानाम्: of sesame seeds
• तिलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• मन्त्र-पूर्वकम्: preceded by mantra-recitation
• मन्त्र-पूर्वकम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/रीति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रेण पूर्वकम् = preceded by mantra)

• स-दक्षिणम्: with a priestly fee
• स-दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणया सहितम् = with fee/donation)

• स-वस्त्रम्: with garments
• स-वस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रेण सहितम् = with cloth/garment)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सर्व-पाप-विमुक्तये: for freedom from all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विमुक्तये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां विमुक्तिः = liberation from all sins)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context, traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Tiladāna-vrata (sesame-gift observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

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

It teaches a specific prāyaścitta-dāna: offering sesame seeds with mantra, plus dakṣiṇā and clothing, as a dharmic means for sarva-pāpa-vimukti (release from accumulated sins).

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

While primarily a karma-kāṇḍa instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing purity and right conduct—ritual charity done with mantras and reverence prepares the mind for sustained Vishnu-bhakti and sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision is implied: using mantra correctly (linked to Śikṣā/Chandas in recitation practice) and the exact measurement “prastha” reflects procedural discipline typical of Vedic ritual culture.