Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

जलशायि चतुर्मासमशून्यशयनव्रतम् । मंकणेशं शिवरात्रिस्तुलापुरुषदानकम् ॥ १६५ ॥

Transliteration

jalaśāyi caturmāsamaśūnyaśayanavratam | maṃkaṇeśaṃ śivarātristulāpuruṣadānakam || 165 ||

Translation

(Il énuméra) le vœu de dormir sur l’eau (jalaśāyī), l’observance des quatre mois (cāturmāsya), le vœu de ne pas laisser le lit inoccupé (aśūnya-śayana), le culte de Maṅkaṇeśa, la veille de Śivarātri, et le don nommé tulāpuruṣa-dāna : peser une personne et offrir des présents d’un poids égal.

Word by Word

• जलशायि: water-reclining (one who lies on water)
• जलशायि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल-शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < शि (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjectival)

• चतुर्मासम्: the four-month period
• चतुर्मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• अशून्यशयनव्रतम्: the vow of not sleeping on an empty bed
• अशून्यशयनव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शून्य-शयन-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• मंकणेशम्: Maṃkaṇeśa (a form/name of Śiva)
• मंकणेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मंकण-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); देवतानाम (name of a deity/śiva)

• शिवरात्रिः: Śivarātri (the night of Śiva)
• शिवरात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• तुलापुरुषदानकम्: the Tulāpuruṣa donation (weighing a person and giving equivalent)
• तुलापुरुषदानकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला-पुरुष-दानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumāra / the Sanaka brothers, listing observances)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: jalaśāyī; cāturmāsya; aśūnya-śayana-vrata; śivarātri; tulāpuruṣa-dāna (as a dāna-vidhi)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (via Śivarātri)
• Maṅkaṇeśa (Śiva shrine/deity form)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā-style enumeration of recognized vratas and dānas, emphasizing that disciplined observance (vrata), worship, and charity (dāna) are core supports of dharma and merit (puṇya) within the Purāṇic framework.

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

By naming Śivarātri and the worship of Maṅkaṇeśa, the verse points to devotion expressed through concrete practices—fasting, vigil, worship, and regulated living—where bhakti is embodied as regular vrata and pūjā rather than only as belief.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implies practical ritual-calendar knowledge—especially timing and observance rules for Cāturmāsya and Śivarātri—drawing on Vedāṅga-style disciplines such as Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (sacred calendrics) for proper performance.