Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

प्रतिमासं ततः शुक्लेद्वादश्यां दानमाचरेत् । घृतप्रस्थं तच्चतुष्कं क्रमाद्वीहेर्यवस्य च ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

pratimāsaṃ tataḥ śukledvādaśyāṃ dānamācaret | ghṛtaprasthaṃ taccatuṣkaṃ kramādvīheryavasya ca || 78 ||

Translation

Sau đó, mỗi tháng vào ngày Dvādaśī của nửa tháng sáng, nên thực hành bố thí. Hãy cúng tặng một prastha bơ tinh khiết (ghṛta), và cũng theo thứ tự dâng bốn phần—cả gạo và lúa mạch nữa.

Word by Word

• prati-māsam: every month
• prati-māsam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘every month’

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (thereafter)

• śukle: in the bright (fortnight)
• śukle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘śukla-pakṣe’ ellipsis (in the bright fortnight)

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तिथि-नाम

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; √चर् with ā- (to practice/perform)

• ghṛta-prastham: a prastha of ghee
• ghṛta-prastham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + prastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: a prastha-measure of ghee

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (that)

• catuṣkam: a set of four
• catuṣkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समूहवाचक (a set of four)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial ablative): ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• vrīheḥ: of rice
• vrīheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrīhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• yavasya: of barley
• yavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Speaker

Sage Nārada (continuing the instructional narration within the Anukramaṇikā-style section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: monthly Dvādaśī dāna (as part of an ongoing vrata regimen; specific vrata-name not stated here)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames disciplined, recurring dāna (charity) on Śukla-Dvādaśī as a dharmic practice that purifies one’s livelihood and sustains religious merit through regularity rather than occasional giving.

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

By prescribing offerings of staple, sattvic foods (ghee, rice, barley) on an auspicious Vaiṣṇava tithi (Dvādaśī), it supports devotion through service and generosity—practical bhakti expressed as care for others and honoring sacred time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It applies calendrical discipline (tithi-based observance—Dvādaśī in Śukla pakṣa) and traditional metrology (prastha as a ritual measure), reflecting applied Jyotiṣa (time-reckoning) and Kalpa-style ritual procedure.