Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Māsopavāsa (Month-long Fast) and Repeated Parāka Observances: Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

मासोपवासनिरता गङ्गास्नानपरायणाः । धममार्गप्रवक्तारो मुक्ता एव न सशंयः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

māsopavāsaniratā gaṅgāsnānaparāyaṇāḥ | dhamamārgapravaktāro muktā eva na saśaṃyaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Diejenigen, die sich den monatlichen Fasten widmen, dem Bad in der Gaṅgā ergeben sind und den Pfad des Dharma verkünden, sind wahrlich befreit—daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• मासोपवासनिरताः: devoted to month-long fasting
• मासोपवासनिरताः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मास + उपवास + निरत (प्रातिपदिक; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘मासोपवासे निरताः’ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपदभावः)

• गङ्गास्नानपरायणाः: intent on bathing in the Ganga
• गङ्गास्नानपरायणाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा + स्नान + परायण (प्रातिपदिक; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘गङ्गास्नाने परायणाः’ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपदभावः)

• धर्ममार्गप्रवक्तारः: expounders of the path of dharma
• धर्ममार्गप्रवक्तारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + मार्ग + प्रवक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘धर्ममार्गस्य प्रवक्तारः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• मुक्ताः: liberated
• मुक्ताः: कर्तृविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषणम्, √मुच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic/only)

• न: no/not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपातः

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये ‘न संशयः’ इति नास्त्यर्थे

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māsopavāsa (monthly fast regimen)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It affirms that disciplined vows (monthly fasting), sacred tīrtha-practice (Gaṅgā-snāna), and actively teaching Dharma together form a powerful triad leading to liberation (mokṣa).

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

By praising sustained vrata and tīrtha observance, the verse supports bhakti as lived practice—devotion expressed through self-restraint, purity, and guiding others toward Dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and vrata-vidhi are implied: timing and observance of fasts (kalpa-related practice) and rules for tīrtha-snāna as part of dharmic conduct.