Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्वस्त्रैराभरणैः शुभैः । दूर्वाकांडैश्च विधिवत्सोपवासा तु कन्यका ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

abhyarcya gandhapuṣpādyairvastrairābharaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ | dūrvākāṃḍaiśca vidhivatsopavāsā tu kanyakā || 3 ||

Translation

Nachdem man vorschriftsgemäß mit Düften, Blumen und dergleichen, mit glückverheißenden Gewändern und Schmuck, sowie mit Halmen des Dūrvā-Grases verehrt hat, soll das junge Mädchen danach das Fasten (Upavāsa) halten.

Word by Word

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि- अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive) ‘having worshipped’

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘with perfumes, flowers, etc.’

• वस्त्रैः: with garments
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आभरणैः: with ornaments
• आभरणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शुभैः: auspicious, fine
• शुभैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the instrumentals)

• दूर्वा-काण्डैः: with durvā grass stalks
• दूर्वा-काण्डैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + काण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘with durvā-stalks’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘according to rule’

• स-उपवासा: observing a fast
• स-उपवासा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘with fasting/observing fast’ (agreeing with कन्यका)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle) ‘but/indeed’

• कन्यका: the maiden (girl)
• कन्यका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a vrata/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Tṛtīyā Gaurī-related saubhāgya-vrata (contextual; implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It links outer ritual purity (proper offerings like gandha, puṣpa, vastra, ābharaṇa, and dūrvā) with inner discipline (upavāsa), presenting worship as both devotion and self-restraint.

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

Bhakti is expressed through vidhivat pūjā—offering auspicious items with reverence—while fasting intensifies single-pointed remembrance and sincerity of the vow.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized through the term vidhivat, indicating worship must follow prescribed rules for offerings and observances like upavāsa.