Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

कार्तिके शुक्लपंचम्यां जयाव्रतमनुत्तमम् । कर्तव्यं पापनाशाय श्रद्धया द्विजसत्तम ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

kārtike śuklapaṃcamyāṃ jayāvratamanuttamam | kartavyaṃ pāpanāśāya śraddhayā dvijasattama || 53 ||

Translation

Au cinquième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire (Śukla Pañcamī) du mois de Kārttika, ô meilleur des deux-fois-nés, on doit observer avec foi le vœu incomparable nommé Jayā-vrata, pour l’anéantissement des péchés.

Word by Word

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; Locative singular

• शुक्ल-पञ्चम्याम्: on the bright-fortnight fifth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-पञ्चम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; Locative singular

• जया-व्रतम्: the Jayā vow
• जया-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; agrees with व्रतम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विधेय/आज्ञार्थक-भावः: ‘should be done’ (gerundive/passive necessity)

• पाप-नाशाय: for the destruction of sins
• पाप-नाशाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचनम्; Dative singular (purpose)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular

• द्विज-सत्तम: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्; Vocative singular

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jayā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kārttika
• Śukla Pañcamī
• Jayā-vrata
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

It prescribes the Jayā-vrata specifically on Kārttika Śukla Pañcamī and states its primary fruit as pāpanāśa—purification through faithful observance (śraddhā).

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

Although it speaks in the language of vrata-dharma, it emphasizes śraddhā (devout faith) as essential—showing that ritual observance becomes spiritually effective when performed with sincere devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical/ritual timing—observance by tithi (Śukla Pañcamī) and māsa (Kārttika), aligning with traditional Jyotiṣa-based vrata scheduling used in Purāṇic ritual practice.