Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पाषाणव्रतमप्यत्र प्रोक्तं तच्छृणु नारद । सोपवासो दिवा नक्तं पाषाणाकारपिष्टचकम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

pāṣāṇavratamapyatra proktaṃ tacchṛṇu nārada | sopavāso divā naktaṃ pāṣāṇākārapiṣṭacakam || 58 ||

Translation

Here the vow called Pāṣāṇa-vrata is also taught—listen, O Nārada. One should observe fasting, and by day and by night partake only of a flour-cake shaped like a stone.

Word by Word

• पाषाणव्रतम्: the ‘stone-vow’
• पाषाणव्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here/in this context)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared/taught
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/वर्णन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रवच् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (past passive participle) from प्र+√वच्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate of ‘पाषाणव्रतम्’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• स-उपवासः: with fasting; fasting
• स-उपवासः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह/युक्त) समास: ‘with fasting’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (describing the vow/observer)

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (by day/during daytime)

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (at night)

• पाषाणाकारपिष्टचकम्: a cake/ball ground into a stone-like shape
• पाषाणाकारपिष्टचकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + पिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष समास: पाषाणाकारं पिष्टं चकं (a cake/ball made by grinding into stone-shape); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (contextually object/description)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pāṣāṇa-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames a specific vrata (Pāṣāṇa-vrata) as a disciplined practice of restraint—fasting and regulated intake—meant to cultivate firmness (steadiness like a stone) and purity of conduct within dharma.

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

While the verse is primarily ritual (vrata) instruction, such regulated austerity supports bhakti by reducing indulgence and stabilizing the mind, making devotional remembrance and worship more consistent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual discipline (rules of observance, food regulation, and fasting timings day/night), emphasizing correct procedure (vidhi) rather than grammar or astrology.