Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

यदीयं शनिना युक्ता सा महावारुणी स्मृता । गंगायां यदि लभ्येत कोटिसूर्यग्रहाधिका ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

yadīyaṃ śaninā yuktā sā mahāvāruṇī smṛtā | gaṃgāyāṃ yadi labhyeta koṭisūryagrahādhikā || 14 ||

Translation

Wenn diese Vāruṇī‑Zeit/Observanz mit Śani (Saturn) verbunden ist, wird sie als die „Große Vāruṇī“ erinnert. Fällt sie an der Gaṅgā an, übertrifft ihr Verdienst das von Millionen Sonnenfinsternissen.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• इयम्: this (one)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शनिना: with Saturn (Śani)
• शनिना: Sahakarana (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन

• युक्ता: is joined/associated
• युक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘joined/associated’

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महावारुणी: the great Vāruṇī (observance/time)
• महावारुणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती वारुणी)

• स्मृता: is called/remembered as
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/called’

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Ganges
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (if)

• लभ्येत: should be obtained/is obtainable
• लभ्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कोटिसूर्यग्रहाधिका: surpassing (an eclipse of) ten million suns
• कोटिसूर्यग्रहाधिका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-सूर्य-ग्रह-अधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कोट्या सूर्यग्रहैः अधिका)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahā-Vāruṇī (Great Vāruṇī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śani (Saturn)
• Gaṅgā
• Sūrya (Sun)

FAQs

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

It elevates a specific auspicious time/observance (Vāruṇī) into “Mahāvāruṇī” when joined with Śani, and declares that performing it at the Gaṅgā tīrtha yields extraordinary puṇya—greater than the merit attributed to countless solar eclipses.

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

While framed as a merit statement, it supports bhakti-centered practice by directing devotees to sanctified times and sacred places (Gaṅgā) where vows, bathing, and worship are traditionally performed with heightened devotional focus and spiritual efficacy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) is implied: the verse bases the ritual’s heightened status on a planetary conjunction with Śani and compares it to a sūrya-graha (solar eclipse), showing how calendrical/astronomical factors guide Narada Purana rituals.