Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

नेत्रव्रतं द्वादश वत्सरान्वै कृत्या भवेद्भूमिपतिर्द्विजेंद्र । सुरूपरूपोऽरिगणप्रतापी धर्माभिरामो नृपवर्गमुख्यः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

netravrataṃ dvādaśa vatsarānvai kṛtyā bhavedbhūmipatirdvijeṃdra | surūparūpo'rigaṇapratāpī dharmābhirāmo nṛpavargamukhyaḥ || 6 ||

Translation

O Bester der Brāhmaṇen: Wer das Netravrata zwölf Jahre lang ordnungsgemäß vollzieht, wird Herrscher der Erde—von schöner Gestalt, mächtig gegen Scharen von Feinden, am Dharma erfreut und der Vornehmste unter den Königen.

Word by Word

• नेत्र-व्रतम्: the eye-vow
• नेत्र-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: नेत्रस्य व्रतम्

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; (here) द्वितीया बहुवचन-समर्थक, वत्सरान् विशेषयति

• वत्सरान्: years
• वत्सरान्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कृत्या: having performed
• कृत्या: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive) from कृ; (irregular/variant) कृत्या = कृत्वा; ‘having performed’

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूमि-पतिः: lord of the earth (king)
• भूमि-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: भूमेः पतिः

• द्विज-इन्द्र: O best of twice-born
• द्विज-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: द्विजानाम् इन्द्रः

• सु-रूप-रूपः: very handsome
• सु-रूप-रूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सुरूपं रूपं यस्य/सुरूपः (emphatic)

• अरि-गण-प्रतापी: mighty against groups of enemies
• अरि-गण-प्रतापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अरिगणस्य प्रतापी (having prowess against hosts of enemies)

• धर्म-अभिरामः: delighting in righteousness
• धर्म-अभिरामः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: धर्मे अभिरामः / धर्मे रमते

• नृप-वर्ग-मुख्यः: chief among kings
• नृप-वर्ग-मुख्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: नृपवर्गस्य मुख्यः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Netravrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-shruti: disciplined, long-term vrata-observance is portrayed as generating dharmic authority—prosperity, strength, and righteous leadership—rather than mere worldly gain.

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

Although it speaks in terms of results, the implied bhakti element is steady vow-based worship and self-restraint over many years, aligning the practitioner with dharma and divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline is emphasized: correct and sustained vrata-performance (kalpa-style observance—rules, timing, and conduct) is treated as the practical means to obtain stated outcomes.