Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

एषा त्रiयोदशी प्रोक्ता वादेयुद्धे जयप्रदा । चतुर्दशीं प्रवक्ष्येऽथ नित्यां वै सर्वमंगलाम् ॥ १९७ ॥

Transliteration

eṣā traiyodaśī proktā vādeyuddhe jayapradā | caturdaśīṃ pravakṣye'tha nityāṃ vai sarvamaṃgalām || 197 ||

Translation

So ist die Trayodaśī (der dreizehnte Mondtag) als diejenige beschrieben worden, die in Wettstreiten des Wortgefechts und der Disputation den Sieg verleiht. Nun werde ich die Caturdaśī (den vierzehnten Mondtag) darlegen, die stets zu beobachten und ganz und gar glückverheißend ist.

Word by Word

• eṣā: this (she/this one)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• traiyodaśī: the thirteenth (tithi)
• traiyodaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traiyodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• proktā: is said/declared
• proktā: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) > prokta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively with implied ‘asti’

• vāda-yuddhe: in debate-battle (disputation)
• vāda-yuddhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• jaya-pradā: granting victory
• jaya-pradā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘traiyodaśī’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + pradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• caturdaśīm: the fourteenth (tithi)
• caturdaśīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravakṣye: I will explain/tell
• pravakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक)

• nityām: Nityā (the ‘eternal’ one)
• nityām: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to caturdaśīm)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nityā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• sarva-maṃgalām: all-auspicious
• sarva-maṃgalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘nityām/caturdaśīm’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the vrata/tithi-phala discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Trayodaśī / Caturdaśī (tithi-vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames tithi-observance (vrata aligned to lunar days) as a dharmic discipline whose fruits include both worldly success (victory in debate) and auspiciousness, transitioning from Trayodaśī to the ever-auspicious Caturdaśī.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, it supports bhakti-oriented vrata culture: observing sacred tithis with faith and regularity is presented as a steady devotional practice that generates maṅgala (spiritual and practical well-being).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style timekeeping: understanding lunar tithis (Trayodaśī, Caturdaśī) and their stated results (phala) to plan and perform appropriate vows and observances.