Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

गंगाप्रयागकाशीनां गयायाश्चाधिपुण्यकम् । अन्नादि दानमाहात्म्यं तन्महाद्वादशीव्रतम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgāprayāgakāśīnāṃ gayāyāścādhipuṇyakam | annādi dānamāhātmyaṃ tanmahādvādaśīvratam || 29 ||

Translation

此处宣示恒河（Gaṅgā）、普罗耶伽（Prayāga）、迦尸（Kāśī）以及伽耶（Gayā）诸圣渡处（tīrtha）的无上功德；并阐明施舍食物等布施之伟大，及于十二日（Dvādaśī）所守的“大十二日誓戒”（Mahā-Dvādaśī vrata）。

Word by Word

• गङ्गा-प्रयाग-काशी-नाम्: of Gaṅgā, Prayāga, and Kāśī
• गङ्गा-प्रयाग-काशी-नाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक) + काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे नपुंसकं सम्भवति; अत्र षष्ठी-बहुवचनरूपेण), षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (copulative): ‘गङ्गा च प्रयागः च काशी च’ → ‘...नाम्’ = of (these)

• गयायाः: of Gayā
• गयायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अधि-पुण्यकम्: supremely meritorious
• अधि-पुण्यकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पुण्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः: ‘अधि’ (exceedingly) + ‘पुण्यक’ (meritorious)

• अन्न-आदि: food etc.
• अन्न-आदि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc.; तत्पुरुषभावः: ‘अन्नादि’ = food and the like

• दान-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of giving (charity)
• दान-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘दानस्य माहात्म्यम्’

• तत्-महा-द्वादशी-व्रतम्: that Mahādvādaśī vow
• तत्-महा-द्वादशी-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘तत्’ (that) + ‘महाद्वादशीव्रत’ (the Mahādvādaśī vow)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue with the Sanatkumara brothers, summarizing topics)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahā-Dvādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Prayaga
• Kashi
• Gaya
• Mahadvadashi Vrata

FAQs

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

The verse highlights two major sources of puṇya (spiritual merit): reverence for foremost tīrthas (Gaṅgā, Prayāga, Kāśī, Gayā) and the disciplined practice of dharma through dāna (especially annadāna) and the Mahā-Dvādaśī vrata.

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

By pointing to Mahā-Dvādaśī—closely connected with Viṣṇu-oriented Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī observances—it frames devotion as lived practice: sacred time (vrata) joined with compassionate giving (dāna), which purifies and supports bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly relies on Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (lunar tithi timing for Dvādaśī vrata) and Kalpa (ritual procedure for vrata and dāna), emphasizing correct observance and appropriate charitable acts like annadāna.