Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तत्रोपवासो नक्तं वा द्विजानां भोजनं जपः । हेम्नो दान च धेन्वादेः सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tatropavāso naktaṃ vā dvijānāṃ bhojanaṃ japaḥ | hemno dāna ca dhenvādeḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 13 ||

Translation

وہاں روزہ رکھنا یا صرف رات کو کھانا؛ دِوِجوں کو بھوجن کرانا اور جپ کرنا؛ نیز سونا اور گائے وغیرہ کا دان—یہ سب تمام گناہوں کا نाश کرنے والے کہے گئے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• tatra: there/on that occasion
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय (adverb) = ‘there/on that occasion’

• upavāsaḥ: fasting
• upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• naktam: at night (only)
• naktam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nakta (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb) ‘by night/at night’; नक्तभोजन-भावे (night-only eating)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• dvijānām: of brahmins
• dvijānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of brahmins/twice-born’

• bhojanam: feeding (meal)
• bhojanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘feeding/meal’ (here: feeding of brahmins)

• japaḥ: japa (recitation)
• japaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hemnaḥ: of gold
• hemnaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of gold’

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction) = ‘and’

• dhenu-ādeḥ: of cows and the like
• dhenu-ādeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘धेन्वादि’ = cow etc.; genitive ‘of cow etc.’ (i.e., gifts of cows etc.)

• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: destroyer of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासार्थः: ‘सर्वेषां पापानां प्रणाशनम्’—(these acts are) sin-destroying

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general Daśamī/vrata-associated austerities implied by context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

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

It presents a compact set of purificatory dharmic remedies—fasting, regulated eating, japa, and charitable giving—stating that these practices cleanse accumulated pāpa and restore ritual-spiritual purity.

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

By emphasizing japa (devotional repetition of a divine name or mantra) alongside self-restraint and charity, it frames bhakti as lived practice—inner remembrance supported by outward dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and prayāścitta logic are implied: regulated fasting (vrata), proper dāna, and japa as sanctioned means for purification—topics aligned with Kalpa/Vedic ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.