Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

एवमेषा महासांतिः कर्तव्या प्रतिवत्सरम् । राज्ञा वित्तवतान्येन वर्षमारोग्यमिच्छता ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

evameṣā mahāsāṃtiḥ kartavyā prativatsaram | rājñā vittavatānyena varṣamārogyamicchatā || 49 ||

Translation

So sollte dieser große Ritus der Befriedung (Mahāśānti) jedes Jahr von einem König – oder einer wohlhabenden Person – durchgeführt werden, der sich ein Jahr voller Gesundheit und Freiheit von Krankheiten wünscht.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha/Prakāra (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकार/रीति-अर्थे (adverb of manner)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• महासान्तिः: great pacificatory rite/peace
• महासान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती शान्तिः)

• कर्तव्या: to be done; should be performed
• कर्तव्या: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• प्रतिवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रतिवत्सरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial), काल-अर्थे (temporal)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वित्तवता: wealthy
• वित्तवता: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्तवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of राज्ञा)

• अन्येन: by another/other
• अन्येन: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• वर्षम्: rain; a year (contextually: rain)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छता: desiring
• इच्छता: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifier of राज्ञा)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahāśānti (śānti-karma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames Mahāśānti as a recurring, annual dharmic safeguard—an act of ritual harmony meant to protect life-force and well-being (ārogya) over the whole year.

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

While it is primarily a śānti-ritual instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by encouraging a disciplined yearly offering and reverent dependence on divine order (ṛta), which sustains a devotee’s health and steadiness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse prescribes an annual schedule (prativatsaram) for a specific śānti-karma, indicating time-bound ritual planning and performance standards.