Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

इति श्रीबृहन्नांरदीयपुराणं पूर्वभागे प्रथमपादे व्रताख्याने मार्गशीर्षशुल्कैकादशीमासभ्य पौर्णिमापर्यन्तं पञ्चरात्रिव्रतं नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

iti śrībṛhannāṃradīyapurāṇaṃ pūrvabhāge prathamapāde vratākhyāne mārgaśīrṣaśulkaikādaśīmāsabhya paurṇimāparyantaṃ pañcarātrivrataṃ nāmaikaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 21 ||

Translation

Así concluye el capítulo vigésimo primero, llamado “El Voto Pañcarātra”, en el Primer Pāda del Pūrva-bhāga del venerado Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa, en la sección sobre los votos, describiendo la observancia desde la Ekādaśī de la quincena luminosa del mes de Mārgaśīrṣa hasta el día de luna llena.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative/closure particle)

• śrī: holy, revered
• śrī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरार्थ-उपपद (honorific prefix)

• bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇam: the Bṛhat-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + nāradīya (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रन्थनाम (title)

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former part
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• prathama-pāde: in the first section (pāda)
• prathama-pāde: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• vrata-ākhyāne: in the narration of the vow
• vrata-ākhyāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• mārgaśīrṣa-śukla-ekādaśī: the bright Ekādaśī of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārgaśīrṣa-śukla-ekādaśī: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-point)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक (the 11th lunar day of bright fortnight in Mārgaśīrṣa)

• māsāt: from the month (i.e., starting in that month)
• māsāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• paurṇimā-paryantam: up to the full-moon day
• paurṇimā-paryantam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; limit in time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paurṇimā (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः, द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण (ending in -am), अर्थः 'पर्यन्तम्' = up to (as far as)

• pañca-rātri-vratam: the five-night vow
• pañca-rātri-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'पञ्चरात्रि' इति कालविशेषेण निर्दिष्टं व्रतम्

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/label)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable usage meaning 'named/called')

• eka-viṃśaḥ: twenty-first
• eka-viṃśaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (twenty-first) qualifying 'adhyāyaḥ'

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Redactor/colophon (Sūta-style chapter ending; not a direct dialogue verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pañcarātri-vrata (Pañcarātra Vow)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Ekādaśī
• Paurṇimā
• Pañcarātra-vrata

FAQs

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

It functions as the chapter colophon, formally sealing the teaching on the Pañcarātra-vrata and marking its ritual time-frame (from Śukla Ekādaśī to Paurṇimā), emphasizing disciplined observance as part of dharma.

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

By naming and framing a specific vrata period, it points to bhakti expressed through regulated worship and vow-keeping—typical of Vaiṣṇava practice where devotion is embodied in time-bound ritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing and the lunar calendar reckoning are central: the verse specifies tithi markers (Ekādaśī and Paurṇimā) and the month (Mārgaśīrṣa), which are essential for correct vrata performance.