Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

आदित्यं शंकरं गौरीं यक्षं गणपतिं ग्रहान् । मातॄः पितॄन्नगान्नागान्सर्वान्नीराजयेत्क्रमात् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

ādityaṃ śaṃkaraṃ gaurīṃ yakṣaṃ gaṇapatiṃ grahān | mātṝḥ pitṝnnagānnāgānsarvānnīrājayetkramāt || 42 ||

Translation

应依次向太阳神、商羯罗（Śaṅkara）、高丽女神（Gaurī）、夜叉、象头神伽内沙（Gaṇapati）、诸行星神、诸母神、祖灵（Pitṛ）、群山与那伽（Nāga）——乃至一切——循序行阿尔蒂（挥灯礼）。

Word by Word

• ādityam: Āditya (Sun)
• ādityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara (Shiva)
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gaurīm: Gaurī (Pārvatī)
• gaurīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• yakṣam: a Yakṣa
• yakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gaṇapatim: Gaṇapati (Ganesha)
• gaṇapatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• grahān: the planets
• grahān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• mātṝḥ: the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• mātṝḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• pitṝn: the Fathers/ancestors (Pitṛs)
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• nagān: mountains
• nagān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• nāgān: serpents
• nāgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (all the above objects)

• nīrājayet: should perform nīrājana (for)
• nīrājayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rāj (राज्) उपसर्ग-नि + णिच् + विधिलिङ्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb): ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a ritual/summary context, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nīrājana-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Aditya
• Shankara
• Gauri
• Yakshas
• Ganapati
• Grahāḥ (Navagraha)
• Matrs (Matrkas)
• Pitrs
• Nagas
• Mountains

FAQs

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

It teaches a dhārmic ritual order (kramāt) for offering nīrājana/ārati, acknowledging cosmic and ancestral forces—deities, grahas, pitṛs, and nāgas—as interconnected supports of worldly harmony and spiritual auspiciousness.

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

By prescribing ārati to multiple revered beings, it expresses bhakti through respectful, structured worship—training the devotee in humility, gratitude, and consistent devotional discipline (upāsanā) within a traditional framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-oriented practice via the worship of the grahas (planetary deities), commonly associated with graha-śānti and auspicious timing, integrated into ritual procedure through nīrājana.