Shloka 39

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

वर्षं यस्तु नरो भक्त्या यथा शक्त्यर्चयन्मुदा । हविष्याशी मिताहारो ब्रह्मचर्यसमन्वितः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

varṣaṃ yastu naro bhaktyā yathā śaktyarcayanmudā | haviṣyāśī mitāhāro brahmacaryasamanvitaḥ || 39 ||

Translation

But the man who, for a full year, worships with devotion—joyfully, according to his capacity—living on havis (simple sacrificial food), eating in moderation, and observing brahmacarya (celibate discipline), attains the promised religious fruit of this vow.

Word by Word

• varṣam: for a year
• varṣam: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय/विरोध-अव्यय (indeed/but)

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: as/according to
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/in the manner)

• śaktyā: with (one’s) ability
• śaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचन (Singular)

• arcayan: worshipping/performing worship
• arcayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु) → arcayat (तिङन्त)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त रूप (present participle used adverbially/with finite sense in context)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचन (Singular)

• haviṣya-āśī: eating haviṣya (simple sacrificial food)
• haviṣya-āśī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haviṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (haviṣyam aśnāti iti: ‘one who eats haviṣya’)

• mita-āhāraḥ: moderate in diet
• mita-āhāraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mita (कृदन्त; √mā) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (mito āhāraḥ)

• brahmacarya-samanvitaḥ: endowed with celibacy/continence
• brahmacarya-samanvitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmacarya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; sam-anu-√i)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (brahmacaryeṇa samanvitaḥ = ‘endowed with brahmacarya’); samanvita = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/mahatmya sequence addressed to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It defines the inner and outer disciplines that make a vow effective: sustained worship for a year, performed with bhakti, supported by purity of conduct (brahmacarya) and restraint (mitāhāra).

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

Bhakti is shown as joyful, steady worship done “as one is able” (yathā-śakti), emphasizing sincerity and continuity over display, while aligning lifestyle with devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice discipline is implied through havisya (havis-based dietary rule) and niyamas used in vrata-vidhi—practical guidance aligned with Kalpa-style observance rather than technical astrology or grammar.