Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एकभक्तव्रतो मर्त्यो भानुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । माघशुक्लाद्यदिवसे वह्निं साक्षान्महेश्वरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ekabhaktavrato martyo bhānulokamavāpnuyāt | māghaśuklādyadivase vahniṃ sākṣānmaheśvaram || 41 ||

Translation

الإنسان الفاني إذا التزم نذر إيكابهكتا (Ekabhakta-vrata)، أي يكتفي بوجبة واحدة بتعبّد، بلغ عالم الشمس. وفي اليوم الأول من النصف المضيء لشهر ماغها، فليُعبَدِ النار، فهي بعينها ماهيشڤارا (شيفا) ظاهرًا.

Word by Word

• एक-भक्त-व्रतः: one who observes the one-meal vow
• एक-भक्त-व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition to एकभक्तव्रतः)

• भानु-लोकम्: the Sun’s world
• भानु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object: destination)

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain/should attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• माघ-शुक्ल-आद्य-दिवसे: on the first day of the bright fortnight of Māgha
• माघ-शुक्ल-आद्य-दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: on the first day of bright fortnight of Māgha)

• वह्निम्: Agni (fire)
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of worship implied)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थे क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly/in person)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to वह्निम्: as Mahādeva)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue setting associated with Sanatkumara tradition in Book 1.4 summaries)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekabhakta-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhanu (Surya)
• Agni (Vahni)
• Maheshvara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It links disciplined observance (Ekabhakta-vrata) with a definite karmic fruit—attainment of Bhānu-loka—and teaches that Agni is a manifest divine form worthy of worship, identified here with Maheśvara.

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

Bhakti is expressed through regulated living: taking a single meal with devotion and honoring divine presence in Agni. The verse presents devotion as practical, vow-based worship that yields spiritual merit and higher realms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style ritual timing is emphasized: the observance is fixed to Māgha, bright fortnight, first day—showing the importance of calendar-based procedure (tithi/fortnight) in Narada Purana ritual instructions.