Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

व्रतसंपूर्तिकामा तु वायनं दापयेत्तथा । एवं षोडशवर्षाणि कृत्वा नारी व्रतं शुभम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

vratasaṃpūrtikāmā tu vāyanaṃ dāpayettathā | evaṃ ṣoḍaśavarṣāṇi kṛtvā nārī vrataṃ śubham || 24 ||

Translation

A woman who longs for the full accomplishment of her vow should likewise arrange the giving of the prescribed vāyana offering. Thus, by observing this auspicious vow for sixteen years, she completes it in due manner.

Word by Word

• व्रत-संपूर्ति-कामा: desiring the completion of the vow
• व्रत-संपूर्ति-कामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + संपूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘नारी’ इत्यस्य; समासः—व्रतस्य संपूर्‍तिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तद्-कामा (तत्पुरुष)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदार्थ-विशेषक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• वायनम्: a gift/offer (vāyana)
• वायनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• दापयेत्: should cause (someone) to give
• दापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to give’)

• तथा: thus/in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus’)

• षोडश-वर्षाणि: sixteen years (for sixteen years)
• षोडश-वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound)

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

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘व्रतम्’ इत्यस्य

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the vrata-vidhi section, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vow (vrata) is completed not only by personal observance but also by the prescribed act of giving (vāyana/dāna), which seals the rite and aligns it with dharma.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity, it reflects a bhakti-aligned ethic: disciplined long-term observance and selfless giving, which purifies intention and supports devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and timing discipline are implied—core to Kalpa (ritual practice): the rule that a vrata may require a concluding or accompanying prescribed gift (vāyana) and a defined multi-year duration.