Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

तथाऽषाढचतुर्थ्यां तु व्रतमन्यच्छुभावहम् । रथंतराह्वकल्पस्य ह्यादिभूतं दिनं यतः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tathā'ṣāḍhacaturthyāṃ tu vratamanyacchubhāvaham | rathaṃtarāhvakalpasya hyādibhūtaṃ dinaṃ yataḥ || 9 ||

Translation

وكذلك، في تشاتورثي من شهر آṣāḍha يوجد نذرٌ آخر يجلب اليُمن، لأن ذلك اليوم يُعَدّ اليوم الافتتاحي للكَلْپَة المعروفة باسم «رَثَنْتَرا».

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आषाढ-चतुर्थ्याम्: on the Āṣāḍha-caturthī
• आषाढ-चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ + चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन (sg.); कालाधिकरण

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); व्रतस्य विशेषण

• शुभ-आवहम्: bringing auspiciousness
• शुभ-आवहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); व्रतस्य विशेषण; ‘bringing auspiciousness’

• रथंतर-आह्व-कल्पस्य: of the kalpa called ‘Rathaṃtara’
• रथंतर-आह्व-कल्पस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथंतर + आह्व + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; causal/emphatic)

• आदि-भूतम्: being the first/original
• आदि-भूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); दिनस्य विशेषण—‘being the first/original’

• दिनम्: day
• दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता; in ‘yataḥ’ clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); हेतु-वाक्ये विषय (topic)

• यतः: because/since
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतु/कारणवाचक (causal relative adverb: ‘because/since’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: unnamed auspicious vrata (associated with Āṣāḍha caturthī; linked to Rathaṃtara-kalpa’s first day)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rathaṃtara (Kalpa)

FAQs

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

It identifies Āṣāḍha Caturthī as an auspicious vrata-day and links its merit to sacred timekeeping, declaring it the beginning-day associated with the Rathaṃtara Kalpa.

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

By recommending a vrata tied to a sacred tithi, it supports bhakti through disciplined observance—using time-sanctified vows as a practical framework for sustained devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/astronomical reckoning of tithi and ritual timing (Jyotiṣa-oriented practice), showing how vows are anchored to specific lunar dates and larger kalpa-based sacred chronology.