Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 79

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं कृत्वा व्रतं विप्र संकष्टाख्यं शूभावहम् । समृद्धो धनधान्यैः स्यान्न च संकष्टमाप्नुयात् ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ vipra saṃkaṣṭākhyaṃ śūbhāvaham | samṛddho dhanadhānyaiḥ syānna ca saṃkaṣṭamāpnuyāt || 79 ||

Translation

Ô brāhmaṇa, ayant ainsi accompli le vœu propice nommé « Saṅkaṣṭa », on devient prospère en richesses et en grains, et l’on ne tombe pas dans la détresse.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकार (thus)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) = 'having done/performed'

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संकष्टाख्यम्: called “Saṅkaṣṭa”
• संकष्टाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकष्ट + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (संकष्ट इति आख्यं = named 'Saṅkaṣṭa') (agreeing with व्रतम्)

• शुभावहम्: bringing auspiciousness
• शुभावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (शुभम् आवहति = bringing auspiciousness) (agreeing with व्रतम्)

• समृद्धः: prosperous
• समृद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• धनधान्यैः: with wealth and grain
• धनधान्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समास (धनं च धान्यं च)

• स्यात्: would be/should become
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• संकष्टम्: distress/trouble
• संकष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आप्नुयात्: would attain/encounter
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saṅkaṣṭa-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It functions as a phala-śruti (result statement), affirming that disciplined observance of the Saṅkaṣṭa vrata produces auspiciousness and shields the practitioner from hardship.

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

While the verse is primarily about vrata-dharma, it implies bhakti through faithful performance of a sacred observance—trusting the deity and the śāstra that such devotion expressed through vrata brings well-being and relief from distress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse summarizes the practical outcome of correctly performing a prescribed vrata, emphasizing disciplined observance and its stated results.