Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

निधाय प्रतिमां पात्रे ह्याचार्याय निवेदयेत् । दातव्या गौः सवत्सा च वस्त्रालंकारभूषिता ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

nidhāya pratimāṃ pātre hyācāryāya nivedayet | dātavyā gauḥ savatsā ca vastrālaṃkārabhūṣitā || 22 ||

Translation

مورتی کو مناسب برتن میں رکھ کر آچاریہ کو قاعدے کے مطابق پیش کرے۔ کپڑوں اور زیورات سے آراستہ بچھڑے سمیت گائے بھی دان کرے۔

Word by Word

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — ‘having placed/put down’

• प्रतिमाम्: the image/idol
• प्रतिमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/assurance

• आचार्याय: to the teacher/priest
• आचार्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should present/offer’

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate) agreeing with ‘गौः’ — ‘to be given/should be given’

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स-वत्सा: with a calf
• स-वत्सा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘गौः’; बहुव्रीहि — ‘having a calf’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वस्त्र-अलंकार-भूषिता: adorned with clothes and ornaments
• वस्त्र-अलंकार-भूषिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘गौः’; past participle ‘adorned’ with instruments implied

Speaker

Narada (in instructive discourse to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acharya

FAQs

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

It teaches dāna as a dharmic act done with reverence—formally offering a consecrated image to the ācārya and supporting sacred life through go-dāna, emphasizing gratitude, purity of intent, and guru-sevā.

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

Bhakti is expressed through honoring the guru and sacred symbols: offering the pratimā respectfully and giving charitable gifts becomes a devotional service that supports worship, learning, and the continuity of dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice): correct presentation (nivedana), proper receptacle (pātra), and prescribed gifts (go-dāna with adornments) as part of regulated religious conduct.