Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

कार्यं तत्तद्विधानेन तत्तत्सिद्धिमभीप्सुभिः । अथ वैशाखपंचम्यां शेषं चाभ्यर्च्य मानवः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

kāryaṃ tattadvidhānena tattatsiddhimabhīpsubhiḥ | atha vaiśākhapaṃcamyāṃ śeṣaṃ cābhyarcya mānavaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

Those who seek success in each respective undertaking should perform it according to its proper rule. Then, on the fifth lunar day (pañcamī) of Vaiśākha, one should also worship Śeṣa (Ananta).

Word by Word

• कार्यं: to be done
• कार्यं: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त) / कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्-तत्-विधानेन: by that-and-that (respective) procedure
• तत्-तत्-विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-तत्-विधान (प्रातिपदिक) [तत् + तत् + विधान]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘by the respective procedure’

• तत्-तत्-सिद्धिम्: the respective success/result
• तत्-तत्-सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-तत्-सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) [तत् + तत् + सिद्धि]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अभीप्सुभिः: by those who desire
• अभीप्सुभिः: Karta (कर्ता/अधिकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीप्सु (प्रातिपदिक) [अभि + ईप्सु (इष् धातोः इच्छार्थे)]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘desirous (people)’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (then/now)

• वैशाखपञ्चम्याम्: on the Vaiśākha Pañcamī (5th lunar day)
• वैशाखपञ्चम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाखपञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक) [वैशाख + पञ्चमी]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• शेषम्: Śeṣa (the serpent)
• शेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (नागराज-शेष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having worshipped’

• मानवः: a man/person
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śeṣa (Ananta) worship on Vaiśākha pañcamī (vrata name not explicitly given)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual and worldly rites bear fruit only when performed according to their prescribed vidhi, and it adds a specific devotional observance: worship of Śeṣa on Vaiśākha pañcamī as a Vaishnava act connected to Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through regulated worship (abhyarcana) of Śeṣa, a divine attendant and manifestation associated with Viṣṇu, showing devotion as disciplined, time-specific, and aligned with scriptural injunctions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical and ritual precision—proper timing by lunar tithi and month (Vaiśākha pañcamī), reflecting the applied knowledge of Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) used to fix vrata and worship dates.