Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पूज्याश्चाविधवा नार्यस्तथा विप्राः सुशोभनाः । सौभाग्यवृद्धये देयो भोक्तव्यं बंधुभिः सह ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

pūjyāścāvidhavā nāryastathā viprāḥ suśobhanāḥ | saubhāgyavṛddhaye deyo bhoktavyaṃ baṃdhubhiḥ saha || 83 ||

Translation

Les femmes non veuves doivent être honorées, et de même les brāhmaṇas dignes et excellents. Pour accroître la bonne fortune, il faut offrir des dons, et la nourriture consacrée doit être partagée avec les proches.

Word by Word

• पूज्याः: are to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूज्य (कृदन्त, -य-प्रत्यय; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय-कर्तव्यता (to be worshipped)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अ-विधवाः: non-widowed
• अ-विधवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not widowed); नार्यः-विशेषणम्

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्ता (those who are to be honored)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्ता (also to be honored)

• सु-शोभनाः: very splendid/auspicious
• सु-शोभनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय ‘well’) + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विप्राः-विशेषणम्

• सौभाग्य-वृद्धये: for the increase of good fortune
• सौभाग्य-वृद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

• देयः: (it) should be given
• देयः: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त, -य-प्रत्यय; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-कर्तव्यता (to be given)

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten/partaken
• भोक्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोक्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्-प्रत्यय; कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-कर्तव्यता (to be eaten/partaken)

• बन्धुभिः: with relatives
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सहकारक (with relatives)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (postposition ‘with’)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/exposition within the Purva Bhaga narrative frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gaurī-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

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

It teaches that auspiciousness (saubhāgya) grows through dharmic social conduct: honoring respectable women and brāhmaṇas, giving dāna, and sharing sanctified food in a harmonious family setting.

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

By emphasizing reverence, charity, and shared prasad-like भोजन, it supports bhakti as lived dharma—serving devotees and the virtuous (especially brāhmaṇas) and maintaining auspicious, sattvic household practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa (ritual procedure) and dharma-prayoga: guidelines for dāna and communal bhojana as part of meritorious rites intended to increase auspiciousness.