Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एवं कृत्वैकभुक्तं तु व्रतं विश्वेशतोषणम् । लभते वांछितान्कामानिहामुत्र च नारद ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ kṛtvaikabhuktaṃ tu vrataṃ viśveśatoṣaṇam | labhate vāṃchitānkāmānihāmutra ca nārada || 52 ||

Translation

وهكذا، بمراعاة نذر الإكابهُكتا (الأكل مرةً واحدة) الذي يُرضي ربَّ الكون، ينال المرءُ ما يشتهي من المرادات في هذه الدنيا وفي الآخرة، يا نارادا.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थे (thus/in this manner)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• एक-भुक्तम्: (a vow) with eating once (a day)
• एक-भुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्रतस्य); तत्पुरुषः (एकवारं भुक्तम्)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

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

• विश्व-ईश-तोषणम्: pleasing to Viśveśa (Lord of the universe)
• विश्व-ईश-तोषणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + तोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्रतस्य); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वेशस्य तोषणम्)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वाञ्छितान्: desired
• वाञ्छितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वाञ्छ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कामानाम्)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालार्थे (here/in this world)

• अमुत्र: there (in the next world)
• अमुत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अमुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालार्थे (there/in the other world)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instruction addressed to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekabhukta-vrata (one-meal observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishvesha
• Narada

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-shruti: disciplined restraint through the ekabhukta-vrata, performed to please Viśveśa, becomes a means to gain auspicious results across both realms—this life and the afterlife.

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

Bhakti is expressed as toṣaṇa—pleasing the Lord through a sincere vow. The emphasis is not mere austerity, but devotion-oriented observance that aligns daily conduct (food restraint) with worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual discipline (vrata-niyama) in practice—specifically regulated eating (ekabhukta) as a dharmic observance connected to worship and its stated results.