Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशाब्दं देहांतं भुक्तभोगः शिवं व्रजेत् । आश्विने सितपक्षत्यां कृत्वाशोकव्रतं नरः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

caturdaśābdaṃ dehāṃtaṃ bhuktabhogaḥ śivaṃ vrajet | āśvine sitapakṣatyāṃ kṛtvāśokavrataṃ naraḥ || 27 ||

Translation

A person who performs the Aśoka-vrata on the proper lunar day in the bright fortnight of Āśvina enjoys worldly pleasures for fourteen years; and at the end of the body, he attains Śiva (Śiva-loka/Śiva’s state).

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश-अब्दम्: for fourteen years
• चतुर्दश-अब्दम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; काल-परिमाण (duration/extent of time)

• देह-अन्तम्: up to the end of life
• देह-अन्तम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अवधी-निर्देश (up to the end of the body/life)

• भुक्त-भोगः: one who has enjoyed pleasures
• भुक्त-भोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्त (कृदन्त; भुज्-धातोः क्त) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य भोगाः भुक्ताः सः

• शिवम्: Śiva (his abode)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म

• व्रजेत्: should go/attain
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आश्विने: in (the month of) Āśvina
• आश्विने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्विन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; मास-निर्देशे अधिकरण (in the month of Āśvina)

• सित-पक्ष-तिथ्याम्: on a tithi in the bright fortnight
• सित-पक्ष-तिथ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; काल-निर्देशे अधिकरण (on the tithi of the bright fortnight)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• अशोक-व्रतम्: the Aśoka-vow
• अशोक-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'कृत्वा' इत्यस्य कर्म

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata-phala context; dialogue framed with Sanatkumara tradition in Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aśoka-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a classic vrata-phala teaching: disciplined observance of the Aśoka-vrata at the prescribed Āśvina bright-fortnight time yields both bhoga (worldly fruition) and a higher post-mortem goal—attainment of Śiva.

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

Bhakti is implied through vow-based worship: performing the Aśoka-vrata with faith and proper timing directs merit toward a personal deity-goal (Śiva), showing how devotional ritual (vrata) becomes a vehicle for spiritual ascent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing and calendrical discipline (linked to Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa) are central: the month (Āśvina) and bright fortnight tithi specification shows how correct time-selection is treated as essential for ritual efficacy in Narada Purana.