Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तिलकं नाम च प्रोक्तं कृष्णेनाजातशत्रवे । अथ ज्येष्ठे सिते पक्षे पक्षत्यां दिवसोदये ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tilakaṃ nāma ca proktaṃ kṛṣṇenājātaśatrave | atha jyeṣṭhe site pakṣe pakṣatyāṃ divasodaye || 14 ||

Translation

Le rite nommé « tilaka » fut enseigné par Kṛṣṇa à Ajātaśatru ; et il fut (d’abord) exposé au mois de Jyeṣṭha, durant la quinzaine claire, le huitième jour lunaire, au lever du soleil.

Word by Word

• tilakam: Tilaka (a rite/mark)
• tilakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• nāma: named/called
• nāma: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used for naming/‘called’

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• proktam: is declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicative ‘is said’

• kṛṣṇena: by Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇena: Karana/Agent-in-passive (करण; कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ajātaśatrave: to Ajātaśatru (the enemyless one)
• ajātaśatrave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajāta-śatru (प्रातिपदिक; a-jāta + śatru)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose enemy is not born’ = ‘one with no enemies’

• atha: then
• atha: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (निपात) ‘then/now’

• jyeṣṭhe: in (the month) Jyeṣṭha
• jyeṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; (month) Jyeṣṭha

• site: bright (white)
• site: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; qualifying pakṣe

• pakṣe: in the fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• pakṣatyām: on Pakṣatī (tithi)
• pakṣatyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular; a specific tithi-name (Pakṣatī)

• divasodaye: at daybreak
• divasodaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divasa-udaya (प्रातिपदिक; divasa + udaya)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purāṇic summary tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Tilaka (rite/observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Ajātaśatru

FAQs

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

It links tilaka with an authoritative lineage (Kṛṣṇa teaching it) and fixes an auspicious kāla (time), presenting tilaka as a dharmic marker that supports devotional identity and purity.

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

By presenting tilaka as a practice taught by Kṛṣṇa, the verse frames external devotional signs as aids to remembrance and commitment—supporting a Vaiṣṇava bhakti-oriented way of life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses pañcāṅga-style calendrical specification—month (Jyeṣṭha), pakṣa (śukla), tithi (Aṣṭamī), and time (sunrise)—reflecting Jyotiṣa-based ritual timing.