Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कात्यायिनीप्रसादाद्वै नात्र कार्या विचारणा । कार्तिके शुक्लषष्ठ्यां तु षण्मुखेन महात्मना ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

kātyāyinīprasādādvai nātra kāryā vicāraṇā | kārtike śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ tu ṣaṇmukhena mahātmanā || 37 ||

Translation

حقًّا، بفضلِ الإلهةِ كاتْيَايِنِي لا حاجةَ هنا إلى شكٍّ ولا إلى مزيدِ تروٍّ. فقد تمّ ذلك في اليومِ السادسِ من النصفِ المضيء (شُكلا شَشْثِي) من شهرِ كارتِّيكا على يدِ العظيمِ الروحِ شَنْمُخا.

Word by Word

• कात्यायिनी-प्रसादात्: from Katyayani’s grace
• कात्यायिनी-प्रसादात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कात्यायिन्याः प्रसादः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणं 'विचारणा' इत्यस्य (to be done)

• विचारणा: deliberation/inquiry
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kartika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; month-name

• शुक्ल-षष्ठ्याम्: on the bright sixth (lunar day)
• शुक्ल-षष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुक्ला या षष्ठी)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• षण्मुखेन: by Shanmukha (six-faced one)
• षण्मुखेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (षण् मुखानि यस्य)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (one)
• महात्मना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन; विशेषणं 'षण्मुखेन' इत्यस्य; कर्मधारय-भावः (महान् आत्मा)

Speaker

Narada (contextual attribution within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Katyayani
• Shanmukha (Skanda/Kartikeya)
• Karttika (month)
• Shukla Shashthi (tithi)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes siddhi (spiritual/ritual success) arising from divine anugraha—Kātyāyinī’s grace removes doubt, and the verse anchors the result to an auspicious time (Kārttika Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī) associated with Ṣaṇmukha.

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

Bhakti is shown as reliance on divine mercy rather than mere argument: the devotee trusts the Goddess’s prasāda and honors sacred calendrical moments connected with revered deities like Ṣaṇmukha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedic calendrics through precise tithi-and-month timing—Kārttika (lunar month) and Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī (sixth tithi)—used to prescribe or authenticate ritual observances.