Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय सालंकारा सखीजनैः । गीतवाद्ययुता नद्यां गौरीं तां तु विसर्जयेत् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ prātaḥ samutthāya sālaṃkārā sakhījanaiḥ | gītavādyayutā nadyāṃ gaurīṃ tāṃ tu visarjayet || 51 ||

Translation

Dann soll sie früh am Morgen aufstehen, geschmückt und von ihrem Freundinnenkreis begleitet — mit Gesang und Instrumenten — und jenes Bildnis der Gaurī (Gaurī) im Fluss versenken (verabschieden).

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (in the morning)

• समुत्थाय: having risen
• समुत्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उत्+√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having risen/after getting up’

• स-अलंकारा: adorned (with ornaments)
• स-अलंकारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—‘अलंकारैः सह’ (adorned); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• सखी-जनैः: with (her) female companions
• सखी-जनैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; ‘सखीनां जनाः’ (group of female friends)

• गीत-वाद्य-युता: accompanied by singing and music
• गीत-वाद्य-युता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘गीतवाद्यैः युता’ (accompanied by song and instruments); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• नद्याम्: in the river
• नद्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गौरीम्: Gaurī (the goddess/image)
• गौरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ताम्: her/that (one)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/immerse (send off)
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic narration on ritual procedure, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gaurī-vrata (implied by worship and visarjana of Gaurī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gauri

FAQs

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

It teaches the proper, respectful conclusion of a goddess-worship observance: after completing the rite, the worshipped form of Gaurī is ceremonially “sent off” through immersion, marking closure, gratitude, and orderly ritual discipline (dharma).

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

Bhakti is expressed here as joyful, communal reverence—adorning oneself, gathering companions, and offering song and music—while still following prescribed steps, showing that devotion is both heartfelt and properly concluded through visarjana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse specifies timing (morning), accessories (ornaments), accompaniments (song/instruments), and the final act (river immersion), reflecting structured observance and correct ritual completion.