Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पौषशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां विरूपाक्षव्रतं स्मृतम् । कपर्दीश्वरसांनिध्यं प्राप्स्याम्यत्र विचिंत्य च ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

pauṣaśuklacaturdaśyāṃ virūpākṣavrataṃ smṛtam | kapardīśvarasāṃnidhyaṃ prāpsyāmyatra viciṃtya ca || 64 ||

Translation

Am hellen Caturdaśī (vierzehnten Mondtag) des Monats Pauṣa ist das Virūpākṣa-vrata vorgeschrieben. Indem man so meditiert: „Hier werde ich die gesegnete Nähe Kapardīśvaras (Śivas) erlangen“, soll man es auf sich nehmen.

Word by Word

• pauṣa-śukla-caturdaśyām: on the bright fortnight’s fourteenth (tithi) of Pauṣa
• pauṣa-śukla-caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauṣa + śukla + caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'on the bright fourteenth of Pauṣa'

• virūpākṣa-vratam: the Virūpākṣa-vrata
• virūpākṣa-vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virūpākṣa + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'Virūpākṣa’s vow'

• smṛtam: is said/remembered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (√smṛ + क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used predicatively: 'is remembered/declared'

• kapardīśvara-sāṃnidhyam: the presence of Kapardīśvara (Śiva)
• kapardīśvara-sāṃnidhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardīśvara + sāṃnidhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'the proximity/presence of Kapardīśvara'

• prāpsyāmi: I shall attain
• prāpsyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √āp (धातु)
• Form: Future/लृट्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (देशवाचक): 'here'

• viciṃtya: having contemplated
• viciṃtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi + √cint (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta: 'having reflected/considered'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय): 'and'

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; specific speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Virūpākṣa-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Virūpākṣa
• Kapardīśvara
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a tithi-specific vrata (Virūpākṣa-vrata) and emphasizes that the inner resolve/meditation (sankalpa) aims at attaining the divine proximity (sāṃnidhya) of Kapardīśvara (Śiva).

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined observance on an auspicious lunar day and through focused contemplation—holding the intention of drawing near to the deity rather than treating the ritual as merely external.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical/tithi computation—identifying Pauṣa śukla caturdaśī—linking ritual timing to traditional dharma practice (a Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga application for vrata scheduling).