Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Pañcarātra Vow (Haripañcaka Vrata): Observance from Śukla Ekādaśī to Pūrṇimā

Devanagari script

गवां कोटिसहस्त्राणि दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नुयात् । तत्फलं लभ्यते पुम्भिरेतस्मादुपवासतः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

gavāṃ koṭisahastrāṇi dattvā yatphalamāpnuyāt | tatphalaṃ labhyate pumbhiretasmādupavāsataḥ || 27 ||

Translation

Whatever merit a person would obtain by gifting tens of thousands of crores of cows— that very merit is gained by a man through this fast (upavāsa).

Word by Word

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• koṭi-sahasrāṇi: crores of thousands
• koṭi-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्यावाचक-समूह (a large number: crores of thousands)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), 'having given'

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative) qualifying 'phalam'

• phalam: fruit, result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āpnuyāt: would obtain/should obtain
• āpnuyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'phalam'

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• labhyate: is obtained
• labhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is obtained')

• pumbhiḥ: by men/people
• pumbhiḥ: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• etasmāt: from this (observance)
• etasmāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc./Neut.), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• upavāsataḥ: of fasting / by fasting
• upavāsataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; हेतौ षष्ठी (genitive of cause/means)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Haripañcaka / Pañcarātra-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gau (cow)
• Upavasa (fasting)

FAQs

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

It elevates upavāsa (fasting) as an exceptionally potent dharmic practice, stating its merit can equal the immense fruit of gifting an inconceivably large number of cows.

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

By praising fasting as highly meritorious, the verse supports a key bhakti discipline: restraint of the senses and dedication of one’s day to sacred intention, which traditionally culminates in remembrance and worship of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Kalpa (ritual discipline) in the form of vrata-niyama: it underscores how a correctly observed vow/fast is treated as a structured dharmic act comparable to major dāna (charity).