Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Second Twelve-Month Vrata: Dvitīyā Observances and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सधारिञ्छ्रीकांत श्रीवास श्रीपते प्रभो । गार्हस्थ्यं मा प्रणाशं मे यातु धर्मार्थकामद ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

śrīvatsadhāriñchrīkāṃta śrīvāsa śrīpate prabho | gārhasthyaṃ mā praṇāśaṃ me yātu dharmārthakāmada || 15 ||

Translation

O Herr, der das Zeichen Śrīvatsa trägt—o Anmutiger, o Śrīvāsa, o Gemahl der Śrī (Lakṣmī), o Gebieter! Möge mein Hausstand nicht zugrunde gehen; o Spender von dharma, artha und kāma, bewahre und beschütze ihn.

Word by Word

• श्रीवत्स-धारिन्: O bearer of the Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्स-धारिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, धृ धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रीवत्सं धारयति’ (bearer of Śrīvatsa mark)

• श्री-कान्त: O beloved of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्री-कान्त: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रियाः कान्तः’ (beloved of Lakṣmī)

• श्री-वास: O abode of Śrī
• श्री-वास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रियाः वासः/निवासः’ (abode of Śrī)

• श्री-पते: O lord of Śrī
• श्री-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रियाः पतिः’ (lord of Śrī)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder life
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपे (topic/subject)

• मा: may not / do not
• मा: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (prohibitive particle) ‘do not’

• प्रणाशम्: destruction
• प्रणाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गन्तव्य/प्राप्तव्य-भावे (as what is to be reached)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; ‘of me/my’

• यातु: may it go
• यातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘let it go/come to’

• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-द: O giver of dharma, wealth, and desire
• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, दा धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समाहारः—‘धर्मं च अर्थं च कामं च ददाति’ (giver of dharma, artha, kāma)

Speaker

Narada (as a devotee praying to Vishnu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (Śrī)

FAQs

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

It frames household life (gṛhastha) as spiritually valid when safeguarded by devotion to Viṣṇu, the giver of dharma, artha, and kāma, so worldly duties remain aligned with righteousness.

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

Bhakti appears as direct surrender and praise through divine epithets (Śrīvatsa-dhārin, Śrīpati), asking the Lord to protect one’s life-stage and keep it from moral and practical collapse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is āśrama-dharma application—seeking divine support so gṛhastha responsibilities are sustained in harmony with dharma.