Shloka 4

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

उपोष्य वासरं विष्णोराकुमारात्तु मानवाः । प्रयांति परमं लोकं लुप्तपापाः पितामह ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

upoṣya vāsaraṃ viṣṇorākumārāttu mānavāḥ | prayāṃti paramaṃ lokaṃ luptapāpāḥ pitāmaha || 4 ||

Translation

O Grandfather, human beings who observe a one-day fast for Lord Viṣṇu—from childhood onward—go to the supreme realm, their sins being erased.

Word by Word

• upoṣya: having fasted
• upoṣya: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√vas (वस्/उपवासे धातु) → upoṣya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; prior action (पूर्वक्रिया)

• vāsaram: a day
• vāsaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• ā-kumārāt: from childhood
• ā-kumārāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; Ablative sense (पञ्चमी-अर्थ) = 'from childhood'

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• mānavāḥ: humans
• mānavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prayānti: go / attain
• prayānti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (या धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with lokam

• lokam: world
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• lupta-pāpāḥ: with sins removed
• lupta-pāpāḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lupta (कृदन्त, क्त; √lup धातु) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहिः = 'whose sins are destroyed' (luptāni pāpāni yeṣām)

• pitāmaha: O grandsire
• pitāmaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (addressing Pitamaha/Brahma in narrative style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Viṣṇu-upavāsa (one-day fast for Vishnu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pitamaha (Brahma)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a simple yet sincere Viṣṇu-centered upavāsa (one-day fast), practiced consistently from an early age, becomes a powerful purifier that destroys pāpa and supports attainment of the supreme divine realm.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined devotion: fasting is not mere austerity but an offering to Viṣṇu. The promised fruit—freedom from sin and higher attainment—highlights the Purāṇic view that loving observance of vows strengthens devotion and grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ritual discipline (vrata/upavāsa) and time-bound observance (vāsera—‘for a day’). While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with calendrical practice used in Dharma and later Jyotiṣa-based vrata scheduling.