Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नैव दांपत्यविच्छेदं लभते सप्तजन्मसु । नभः शुक्लत्रयोदश्यां रतिकामव्रतं शुभम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

naiva dāṃpatyavicchedaṃ labhate saptajanmasu | nabhaḥ śuklatrayodaśyāṃ ratikāmavrataṃ śubham || 28 ||

Translation

One who observes this auspicious Rati–Kāma vow on the bright Trayodaśī (thirteenth lunar day) of the month of Nabhas (Śrāvaṇa) does not suffer separation in married life for seven births.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: निषेध (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: अवधारण (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• दाम्पत्य-विच्छेदम्: separation of the couple/marital break
• दाम्पत्य-विच्छेदम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम्पत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘दाम्पत्यस्य विच्छेदः’

• लभते: obtains/experiences
• लभते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सप्त-जन्मसु: in seven births
• सप्त-जन्मसु: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः = ‘सप्त जन्मानि’

• नभः: (in the month) Nabhas (Śrāvaṇa)
• नभः: अधिकरण-निर्देशक (काल/Time indicator)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मासवाचकः (name of month: Nabhas/Śrāvaṇa)

• शुक्ल-त्रयोदश्याम्: on the bright 13th lunar day
• शुक्ल-त्रयोदश्याम्: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘शुक्ला त्रयोदशी’ (bright-fortnight 13th)

• रति-काम-व्रतम्: the Rati-Kāma vow
• रति-काम-व्रतम्: कर्ता/विषय (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘रतिकामयोः व्रतम्’ (समाहार/निर्देश)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्रतम्-विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rati-Kāma-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Kama

FAQs

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

It presents a vrata as a dharmic discipline whose fruit (phala) is long-lasting marital concord, extending across multiple births, showing how ritual observance is linked to samsaric well-being.

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

While not explicitly teaching Vishnu-bhakti here, it reflects the Purāṇic model where faithful observance of prescribed vows with reverence (śraddhā) is a devotional act that yields protective merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical timing—month (Nabhas/Śrāvaṇa), fortnight (śukla), and tithi (Trayodaśī)—which connects to Jyotiṣa-style lunar reckoning used for determining proper vrata dates.