Shloka 16

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

सोपवासश्चतुर्द्दश्यां भवेदुभयपक्षयोः । पौर्णमास्यां तु गंधैश्च गंगायाः सलिलैस्तथा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sopavāsaścaturddaśyāṃ bhavedubhayapakṣayoḥ | paurṇamāsyāṃ tu gaṃdhaiśca gaṃgāyāḥ salilaistathā || 16 ||

Translation

Man soll am Caturdaśī, dem vierzehnten Mondtag, in beiden Monatshälften (hell und dunkel) fasten (upavāsa). Und am Paurṇamāsī, dem Vollmondtag, soll man mit Düften verehren und ebenso mit dem Wasser der Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• स-उपवासः: with fasting / fasting-observant
• स-उपवासः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: उपवासेन सह/उपवासयुक्तः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate/qualifier

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth (tithi)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'on the fourteenth lunar day'

• भवेत्: should be / should occur
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उभय-पक्षयोः: of both fortnights
• उभय-पक्षयोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: उभौ पक्षौ; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनरूप (पक्षयोः = gen./loc. dual); here genitive: 'of both fortnights' (śukla & kṛṣṇa)

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day
• पौर्णमास्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्णमासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'on the full-moon day'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक: 'but/indeed'

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental: 'with fragrances'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गङ्गायाः: of the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सलिलैः: with waters
• सलिलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental: 'with waters'

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'thus/also/in the same way'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/tirtha context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Caturdaśī-vrata / Paurṇamāsī-pūjā (observance pattern)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It prescribes a disciplined monthly observance: fasting on Caturdaśī in both fortnights and honoring the sacredness of Gaṅgā on Paurṇamāsī through offerings and her waters—acts understood to generate puṇya and ritual purity in a tirtha framework.

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

By directing the devotee to regular, calendar-based worship (upavāsa and pūjā with gandha and Gaṅgā-jala), it frames bhakti as steady practice—expressing reverence through bodily restraint (fasting) and sacred offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on Jyotiṣa/kalā (lunar calendrical reckoning): identifying Caturdaśī in both pakṣas and Paurṇamāsī, which is essential for correct vrata timing and ritual observance.