Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

भाद्रशुक्लतृतीयायां व्रतं वै हारितालकम् । कुर्याद्भक्त्या विधानेन पाद्यार्ध्यार्चन पूर्वकम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

bhādraśuklatṛtīyāyāṃ vrataṃ vai hāritālakam | kuryādbhaktyā vidhānena pādyārdhyārcana pūrvakam || 30 ||

Translation

Am tṛtīyā (dritten Mondtag) der hellen Hälfte des Monats Bhādrapada soll man das Hāritālaka-Vrata in Hingabe nach der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung vollziehen, beginnend mit den Gaben von Pādya und Arghya und danach mit der Verehrung (Arcana).

Word by Word

• भाद्रशुक्लतृतीयायाम्: on the third (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Bhādra
• भाद्रशुक्लतृतीयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्र + शुक्ल + तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—भाद्रस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य तृतीया (तिथिः)

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• हारितालकम्: (called) Hāritālaka
• हारितालकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हारितालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘व्रतम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (नामवत्)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• पाद्य: water for washing the feet
• पाद्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (component in compound)

• अर्घ्य: offering (arghya)
• अर्घ्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (component in compound)

• अर्चन: worship
• अर्चन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (component in compound)

• पूर्वकम्: as a preliminary/preceded by
• पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘पाद्य-अर्घ्य-अर्चन-पूर्वकम्’ = having (them) as preliminaries

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana’s instructional dialogue, traditionally to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Hāritālaka-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a tithi-specific vrata gains spiritual efficacy when performed with bhakti and correct vrata-vidhi, beginning with respectful offerings and formal worship.

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

Bhakti is presented as the essential inner disposition—ritual actions like pādya, arghya, and arcana are to be performed devotionally, not mechanically, aligning outer worship with inner reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/astronomical ritual timing via tithi (a Jyotiṣa-related practical element) and outlines standard pūjā-upacāras (pādya, arghya) as part of ritual procedure.