Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

मार्गशुक्लतृतीयायां हरगौरीव्रतं शुभम् । कृत्वा पूर्वविधानेन पूजयेज्जगदंबिकाम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaśuklatṛtīyāyāṃ haragaurīvrataṃ śubham | kṛtvā pūrvavidhānena pūjayejjagadaṃbikām || 56 ||

Translation

Au jour de tṛtīyā de la quinzaine claire du mois de Mārgaśīrṣa, qu’on entreprenne l’auspicieux vœu de Hara–Gaurī. Puis, selon la règle exposée plus haut, qu’on adore Jagadambikā, la Mère de l’univers.

Word by Word

• mārga-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the third (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārga-śukla-tṛtīyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛtīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); kāla-adhikaraṇa

• hara-gaurī-vratam: the Hara-Gaurī vow
• hara-gaurī-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक) + gaurī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of vratam

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya-prayoga

• pūrva-vidhānena: by the earlier prescribed procedure
• pūrva-vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karaṇa-instrumental

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• jagat-ambikām: the Mother of the world (Goddess)
• jagat-ambikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/dialogue context, traditionally to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Hara-Gaurī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Gauri (Parvati)
• Jagadambika (Devi)

FAQs

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

It sanctifies a specific tithi (Mārgaśīrṣa Śukla Tṛtīyā) for a focused vrata, teaching that aligning time (tithi) with prescribed worship (vidhi) makes the observance spiritually auspicious and effective.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through disciplined worship—undertaking a vrata and honoring Jagadambikā with the prescribed method—showing devotion as steady, rule-guided reverence rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa in practice: ritual timing by lunar tithi and month (Mārgaśīrṣa, Śukla, Tṛtīyā) is treated as essential to performing vows and pūjā correctly.