Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

चैत्रमासे शुक्लषष्ठ्यां कुमारव्रतमुत्तमम् । तत्रेष्ट्वा षण्मुखं देवं नानापूजा विधानतः ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

caitramāse śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ kumāravratamuttamam | tatreṣṭvā ṣaṇmukhaṃ devaṃ nānāpūjā vidhānataḥ || 2 ||

Translation

Im Monat Caitra, am sechsten Mondtag der hellen Monatshälfte, ist das vortreffliche Gelübde namens Kumāra-vrata zu halten. An jenem Tag verehre man den sechsgesichtigen Herrn (Ṣaṇmukha) mit vielfältigen Darbringungen gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ritualordnung, und so wird das Gelübde vollendet.

Word by Word

• चैत्रमासे: in the month of Caitra
• चैत्रमासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्रमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: चैत्र + मास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘Caitra-month’)

• शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: on the bright sixth lunar day
• शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्लषष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘bright (fortnight) sixth (tithi)’

• कुमारव्रतम्: the vow of Kumāra (Skanda)
• कुमारव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied ‘perform’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: कुमारस्य व्रतम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of कुमारव्रतम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: there/therein)

• इष्ट्वा: having worshipped
• इष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped/sacrificed’

• षण्मुखम्: the six-faced (Skanda)
• षण्मुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of इष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (संख्या) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: षण्णां मुखानां समाहारः/यस्य सः ‘six-faced’

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण; object in apposition to षण्मुखम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषणवत्; qualifies पूजा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: various)

• पूजा: with worship
• पूजा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular) (अर्थ: ‘by/with worship’)

• विधानतः: according to prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘according to rule/ordinance’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/ritual context within Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kumāra-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaṇmukha (Skanda/Kumāra)

FAQs

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

It fixes a sacred time (Caitra, bright Ṣaṣṭhī) for the Kumāra-vrata and emphasizes worship done “according to vidhi,” teaching that disciplined observance and properly ordered pūjā are themselves dharma that lead to merit and spiritual uplift.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as structured devotion—worshipping Ṣaṇmukha with many offerings and reverence—showing that heartfelt devotion is strengthened when performed with scriptural procedure (vidhāna) and a vowed intention (vrata).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical/ritual precision—identifying the lunar tithi (Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī) and month (Caitra) and insisting on pūjā-vidhi—reflecting applied Jyotiṣa (timing) and Kalpa (ritual procedure).