Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य मिष्टपक्वान्नैर्दक्षिणाभिः प्रतोषयेत् । एवं यः कुरुतेऽनंतव्रतं प्रत्यक्षमादरात् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya miṣṭapakvānnairdakṣiṇābhiḥ pratoṣayet | evaṃ yaḥ kurute'naṃtavrataṃ pratyakṣamādarāt || 32 ||

Translation

Sau khi thết đãi bằng các món ngọt và thức ăn nấu chín tinh sạch, hãy làm cho họ hoàn toàn hoan hỷ bằng lễ vật cúng dường (dakṣiṇā). Như vậy, ai thực hành Ananta-vrata với sự chăm sóc trực tiếp, tận tâm và kính trọng, người ấy thật sự viên mãn lời nguyện.

Word by Word

• संभोज्य: having fed
• संभोज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भोज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having fed/entertained’

• मिष्टपक्वान्नैः: with sweet cooked foods
• मिष्टपक्वान्नैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट + पक्व + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• दक्षिणाभिः: with gifts/fees (dakṣiṇās)
• दक्षिणाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• प्रतोषयेत्: should satisfy/please
• प्रतोषयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Present, Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

• अनन्तव्रतम्: the Ananta vow
• अनन्तव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly/manifestly
• प्रत्यक्षम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbially: ‘directly/manifestly’)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana’s instructional dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ananta-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Vishnu
• Dakshina

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow becomes spiritually effective not only through formal rites but through sincere, personal reverence expressed as feeding (bhojana) and charitable gifts (dakṣiṇā), which complete the dharmic act.

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

By emphasizing ādarāt (reverent care) and pratyakṣam (direct, personal performance), the verse frames bhakti as practical service—honoring Viṣṇu/Ananta through hospitality and generosity rather than mere verbal observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual discipline: the procedural elements of vrata—proper feeding, concluding honoraria (dakṣiṇā), and the etiquette of satisfying invitees—showing applied dharma rather than grammar or astrology.