Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स उद्धृत्य पितॄन्गच्छेद्देवलोकं सनातनम् । इषशुक्ल चतुर्द्दश्यां धर्मराजं द्विजोत्तम ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

sa uddhṛtya pitṝngaccheddevalokaṃ sanātanam | iṣaśukla caturddaśyāṃ dharmarājaṃ dvijottama || 43 ||

Translation

وبذلك إذ يرفع أسلافه (الپِتْر) ويخلّصهم، يبلغ عالم الآلهة الأبدي. وفي اليوم القمري الرابع عشر من النصف المضيء من شهر «إيشا» (كارتيكا)، يا أفضل الثنائيّ الولادة، يصل إلى دهرماراجا (ياما).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun (he)

• उद्धृत्य: having uplifted
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु) → उद्धृत्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = ‘having lifted/raised/rescued’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural (the ancestors)

• गच्छेत्: goes/attains
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘would go/should go’ (resultative prescription)

• देव-लोकम्: the world of the gods
• देव-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘देवानां लोकः’); Accusative singular

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ‘देवलोकम्’

• इष-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: on Āśvina bright fourteenth
• इष-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष (प्रातिपदिक; आश्विन-मासस्य नाम) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मास- पक्ष- तिथि-निर्देशः); Locative singular (on the 14th of the bright fortnight of Āśvina)

• धर्म-राजम्: Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्म-राजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; Accusative singular (Yama/Dharmarāja)

• द्विज-उत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘द्विजानाम् उत्तमः’); address

Speaker

Narada (teaching in an anukramaṇikā/summarizing mode, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Devaloka
• Dharmaraja (Yama)

FAQs

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

It links righteous observance to two outcomes: the upliftment of one’s ancestors (pitṛ-uddhāra) and the attainment of higher realms (devaloka), emphasizing that dharmic acts generate transgenerational merit.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti here, it reflects the Purāṇic principle that disciplined sacred observances performed with faith (śraddhā) and dharma-oriented intent become a means to spiritual elevation and benefit to one’s lineage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical precision—month (Īṣa/Kārttika), fortnight (śukla pakṣa), and tithi (caturdaśī)—which aligns with Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning for correctly timing Narada Purana rituals.