Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

पूर्णँ संवत्सरं कृत्वा कुर्यादुद्यापनं व्रती । मार्गशीर्षासिते पक्षे द्वादश्यां च मुनीश्वर ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

pūrṇaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ kṛtvā kuryādudyāpanaṃ vratī | mārgaśīrṣāsite pakṣe dvādaśyāṃ ca munīśvara || 88 ||

Translation

Nachdem ein volles Jahr vollendet ist, soll der Gelübdeübende das abschließende Ritual (udyāpana) vollziehen. O Bester der Weisen, dies geschehe am zwölften Mondtag (Dvādāśī) der dunklen Monatshälfte im Monat Mārgaśīrṣa.

Word by Word

• pūrṇam: complete, full
• pūrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of 'saṃvatsaram'

• saṃvatsaram: a year
• saṃvatsaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having done/completed
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), avyaya; pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• udyāpanam: concluding rite (udyāpana)
• udyāpanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udyāpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mārgaśīrṣa-asite: in the dark (kṛṣṇa) half of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārgaśīrṣa-asite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + asita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); 'mārgaśīrṣa' + 'asita' = mārgaśīrṣasya asite (locative) qualifying 'pakṣe'

• pakṣe: in the fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• dvādaśyām: on the twelfth lunar day
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात, conjunction)

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vow is spiritually complete only when its udyāpana (formal concluding rite) is performed after the full intended duration, marking disciplined dharma and proper closure of the sādhana.

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

By prescribing a fixed sacred time (Dvādāśī) for the vow’s conclusion, it aligns devotional practice with Vaishnava observances where Dvādāśī is especially auspicious for completing Vishnu-centered vratas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa and Jyotiṣa-style ritual timing: selecting the correct lunar month (Mārgaśīrṣa), fortnight (kṛṣṇa pakṣa), and tithi (Dvādāśī) for udyāpana.