Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ततः सुलक्षणैर्युक्ता वेश्या वाथ कुलांगना । शीर्षोपरि नरेंद्रस्य तया नीराजयेच्छनैः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ sulakṣaṇairyuktā veśyā vātha kulāṃganā | śīrṣopari nareṃdrasya tayā nīrājayecchanaiḥ || 48 ||

Translation

随后，一位具足吉祥相的艺伎（或出身名门的贵妇）应当轻柔地在国王头顶行阿罗提（nīrājana，摇灯礼）。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: काल (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• सु-लक्षणैः: with good auspicious marks
• सु-लक्षणैः: करण/सह (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सु + लक्षण)

• युक्ता: endowed/associated
• युक्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier of वेश्या/कुलाङ्गना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषण

• वेश्या: a courtesan
• वेश्या: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता (of implied action)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/प्रस्तावार्थक (then/and now)

• कुल-अङ्गना: a noblewoman (lady of a good family)
• कुल-अङ्गना: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कुलस्य अङ्गना)

• शीर्ष-उपरि: upon (his) head
• शीर्ष-उपरि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययभावेन प्रयोगः (‘upon the head’)

• नरेन्द्रस्य: of the king
• नरेन्द्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् इन्द्रः)

• तया: by her
• तया: करण (Instrument/agentive instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृसहायक (by her/with her)

• नीराजयेत्: should perform nīrājana (wave lights)
• नीराजयेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नीराज् (धातु; denominative from नीराजन)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शनैः: slowly/gently
• शनैः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly/gently)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narendra (King)

FAQs

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

It highlights nirājana (ārati) as a protective, auspicious rite meant to remove inauspiciousness (ariṣṭa) and invoke śubha-maṅgala for the ruler, emphasizing the dharmic safeguarding of kingship through proper ceremony.

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

Though the verse is procedural, nirājana is fundamentally an act of reverent offering (upacāra) performed with sacred intent; such worshipful action cultivates devotion by making royal life also conform to pūjā-based dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—specifying eligibility and method (slow, careful performance) for a rite—showing how dharmic ceremonies are executed with prescribed decorum.