Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

व्रती द्विजाय तत्पश्चादेकभक्तं समाचरेत् । व्रतेनानेन संतुष्टो देवदेवस्त्रिविक्रमः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

vratī dvijāya tatpaścādekabhaktaṃ samācaret | vratenānena saṃtuṣṭo devadevastrivikramaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

其后，持戒者当行“一食”（ekabhakta），每日仅食一次，并向二生者（婆罗门）作应施之供养。以此誓行，三步尊——诸神之神——即得欢喜。

Word by Word

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• द्विजाय: to a brāhmaṇa
• द्विजाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• तत्: then/thereafter
• तत्: Sambandha/Prakaraṇa (सम्बन्ध/प्रकरण; sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial use of pronoun)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha/Prakaraṇa (सम्बन्ध/प्रकरण; time sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एक-भक्तम्: single-meal observance
• एक-भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘समाचरेत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (भज् धातु, क्त कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘एकभक्त’ = एकवारं भोजनम् (single meal)

• सम्-आचरेत्: should practice/observe
• सम्-आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रतेन: by this vow
• व्रतेन: Karana (करण; means/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘एतेन’ अर्थे

• सन्तुष्टः: pleased/satisfied
• सन्तुष्टः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तुष्ट (सम् + तुष् धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘त्रिविक्रमः’

• देव-देवः: God of gods
• देव-देवः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to ‘त्रिविक्रमः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘देवानां देवः’

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama (Vishnu)
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (Trivikrama-focused; continuation/conclusion step)

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 teaches that disciplined vrata-practice—especially restraint in food and honoring the dvija—directly pleases Viṣṇu as Trivikrama, showing that devotion is strengthened through regulated living and dharmic giving.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as practical devotion: adopting ekabhakta (one meal a day) as a vow-discipline and supporting a brāhmaṇa, indicating that sincere austerity and reverence are offerings that satisfy the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented vrata procedure) is implied: the regulated observance of ekabhakta and the prescribed act of giving/serving a dvija as part of a vow’s proper performance.