Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां नैत्यिकं कृत्वा समभ्यर्च्य त्रिविक्रमम् । ततो द्विजाग्र्यान्संभोज्य दत्वा तेभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ naityikaṃ kṛtvā samabhyarcya trivikramam | tato dvijāgryānsaṃbhojya datvā tebhyaśca dakṣiṇām || 13 ||

Translation

Vào ngày Dvādaśī, sau khi làm xong các nghi thức bổn phận hằng ngày và cung kính thờ phụng Trivikrama (Đức Viṣṇu), người ấy nên đãi trai phạn các bậc Bà-la-môn ưu tú và cũng dâng dakṣiṇā (lễ vật thù lao) cho họ.

Word by Word

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• naityikam: the daily rite
• naityikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naityika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'daily obligatory rite'

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √कृ; indeclinable verbal form

• samabhyarcya: having duly worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √अर्च् 'to worship' with prefixes सम्+अभि

• trivikramam: Trivikrama (Viṣṇu)
• trivikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trivikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); name of Viṣṇu

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'then/from there'

• dvija-agryān: the foremost Brahmins
• dvija-agryān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'agryāḥ dvijāḥ' (foremost Brahmins)

• saṃbhojya: having fed
• saṃbhojya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √भुज् with prefix सम्

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √दा 'to give'

• tebhyaḥ: to them
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• dakṣiṇām: a gift/fee (honorarium)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī observance—Dvādaśī completion (parāṇa context implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama

FAQs

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

It presents Dvādaśī as the completion of devotional observance: daily dharma (naityika karma) is joined with Viṣṇu-worship and sealed by service to brāhmaṇas through feeding and dakṣiṇā, integrating bhakti, yajña-spirit, and dāna.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship of Trivikrama and reverent honoring of Viṣṇu’s devotees/representatives (dvijāgryas), showing that devotion is not only inner feeling but also ritual worship and compassionate giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: observing the lunar tithi (Dvādaśī), performing naityika duties, executing proper arcana (worship), and concluding with brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dakṣiṇā as a structured rite.