Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

गन्धपुष्पांशुकाद्यैस्तु नारी सौभाग्यकाम्यया । रंभाव्रतमिदं विप्र विधिवत्समुपाश्रितम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

gandhapuṣpāṃśukādyaistu nārī saubhāgyakāmyayā | raṃbhāvratamidaṃ vipra vidhivatsamupāśritam || 17 ||

Translation

ومن رغبت من النساء في سعادة الزواج وحُسن الطالع، فلتتعهّد—أيها البراهمن—بهذا «نذر رَمْبْهَا» على الوجه المقرر، مع الطيب والزهور والكسوة وما شابه ذلك.

Word by Word

• गन्धपुष्पांशुकाद्यैः: with perfumes, flowers, garments, etc.
• गन्धपुष्पांशुकाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (गन्ध-पुष्प-अंशुक-आदि) ‘with perfumes, flowers, garments, etc.’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सौभाग्यकाम्यया: with desire for marital/prosperous fortune
• सौभाग्यकाम्यया: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सौभाग्यस्य काम्या) ‘with the desire for good fortune’

• रंभाव्रतम्: the Rambhā-vow
• रंभाव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंभा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रंभायाः व्रतम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Accusative singular

• विप्र: O brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: properly
• विधिवत्: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• समुपाश्रितम्: duly undertaken/observed
• समुपाश्रितम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उप + आ + श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्; ‘duly undertaken/observed’ (agrees with व्रतम्/इदम्)

Speaker

Narada (instructing a brāhmaṇa interlocutor within the vrata-teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rambhā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rambhā

FAQs

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

It frames Rambhā-vrata as a dhārmic observance aimed at saubhāgya (auspicious married fortune), emphasizing that inner intention (kāmya-saṅkalpa) must be matched by correct ritual discipline (vidhi).

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

By prescribing offerings like fragrance, flowers, and garments, the verse reflects pūjā-bhāva—devotion expressed through respectful, rule-guided worship—where tangible offerings become a vehicle for faith and reverence in a vrata context.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the insistence on vidhivat—performing the vow according to prescribed rules and sequence, including appropriate upacāras (offerings) such as gandha and puṣpa.