Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य विप्रान्मिष्टान्नैर्विसृजेल्लब्धदक्षिणान् । एवं कृत्वा व्रतं मर्त्यो महादेवप्रसादतः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya viprānmiṣṭānnairvisṛjellabdhadakṣiṇān | evaṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ martyo mahādevaprasādataḥ || 72 ||

Translation

以甘美饮食供养婆罗门后，当依礼施与应得之供养金（dakṣiṇā），恭敬送别。凡人如是修持此誓戒，皆由大天（摩诃提婆，湿婆）之恩而得其果。

Word by Word

• सम्भोज्य: having fed (honoured with food)
• सम्भोज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भुज् (धातु) + णिच्? (causative sense) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); अर्थः: ‘भोजयित्वा’ (having fed)

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; कर्मपदम्

• मिष्ट-अन्नैः: with sweet foods
• मिष्ट-अन्नैः: करण (Karaṇa/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; करणम्

• विसृजेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसृजेत्: कर्ता (Karta/subject, implied practitioner)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• लब्ध-दक्षिणान्: who have received their honorarium (dakṣiṇā)
• लब्ध-दक्षिणान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (सम्-लभ्/लभ् + क्त, कृदन्त) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; ‘विप्रान्’ इति विशेषणम्

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• मर्त्यः: a mortal person
• मर्त्यः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्ता

• महादेव-प्रसादतः: by the grace of Mahādeva
• महादेव-प्रसादतः: हेतु (Hetu/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata-vidhi context, within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vipra
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Dakshina

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vrata becomes spiritually complete when it culminates in service and generosity—feeding brāhmaṇas and offering dakṣiṇā—so the merit matures as divine grace (prasāda), here explicitly linked to Mahādeva.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through personal austerity but through honoring sacred persons and offering with reverence; the verse frames the fruit of the vow as arising from Mahādeva’s favor, emphasizing surrender to divine will rather than mere ritual mechanics.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure) principles: the proper concluding act of a vow includes vipra-bhojana and dakṣiṇā, indicating that correct ritual sequencing and completion are essential for the intended phala (result).