Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

ऊर्जशुक्लतृतीयायां विष्णुगौरीव्रतं चरेत् । पूजयित्वा जगद्वन्द्यामुपचारैः पृथग्विधैः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

ūrjaśuklatṛtīyāyāṃ viṣṇugaurīvrataṃ caret | pūjayitvā jagadvandyāmupacāraiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Am Tṛtīyā (dritten Mondtag) der hellen Monatshälfte im Monat Ūrja soll man das Gelübde Viṣṇu–Gaurī begehen. Nachdem man die von der Welt verehrte Göttin mit vielfältigen, jeweils eigenen rituellen Darbringungen (upacāra) verehrt hat, vollende man den Ritus in rechter Weise.

Word by Word

• ūrja-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the third (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Ūrja (Kārtika)
• ūrja-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūrja (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛtīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); kāla-adhikaraṇa (time-locative)

• viṣṇu-gaurī-vratam: the Viṣṇu-Gaurī vow/observance
• viṣṇu-gaurī-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + gaurī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• caret: should perform/observe
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/त्वान्त), avyaya-prayoga (indeclinable verbal)

• jagat-vandyām: the one worthy of worship by the world (Gaurī)
• jagat-vandyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + vandyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); karaṇa-instrumental

• pṛthak-vidhaiḥ: of various kinds, separately arranged
• pṛthak-vidhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of upacāraiḥ

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the vrata-vidhi section, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Viṣṇu-Gaurī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gauri (Devi)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a time-specific vow (vrata) and a devotional method: honoring Viṣṇu alongside Gaurī through structured worship, emphasizing dharma expressed as disciplined bhakti and reverent pūjā.

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

Bhakti is presented as deliberate service—performing a vrata on an auspicious tithi and offering varied upacāras to the deity—showing devotion through regulated ritual and heartfelt veneration.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It applies calendrical and ritual precision: identifying the lunar tithi (śukla-tṛtīyā) and the month (Ūrja), reflecting Jyotiṣa-based timing and Kalpa-style vrata/pujā procedure via upacāras.