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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

चैत्रमासे शुक्लषष्ठ्यां कुमारव्रतमुत्तमम् । तत्रेष्ट्वा षण्मुखं देवं नानापूजा विधानतः ॥ २ ॥

caitramāse śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ kumāravratamuttamam | tatreṣṭvā ṣaṇmukhaṃ devaṃ nānāpūjā vidhānataḥ || 2 ||

Au mois de Caitra, le sixième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire, on doit observer l’excellent vœu nommé Kumāra-vrata. Ce jour-là, après avoir adoré le Seigneur aux six visages (Ṣaṇmukha) par diverses offrandes selon le rite prescrit, le vœu s’accomplit.

चैत्रमासेin the month of Caitra
चैत्रमासे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
TypeNoun
Rootचैत्रमास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: चैत्र + मास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘Caitra-month’)
शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्on the bright sixth lunar day
शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
TypeNoun
Rootशुक्लषष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘bright (fortnight) sixth (tithi)’
कुमारव्रतम्the vow of Kumāra (Skanda)
कुमारव्रतम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object; implied ‘perform’)
TypeNoun
Rootकुमार + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: कुमारस्य व्रतम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
उत्तमम्excellent
उत्तमम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of कुमारव्रतम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: there/therein)
इष्ट्वाhaving worshipped
इष्ट्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped/sacrificed’
षण्मुखम्the six-faced (Skanda)
षण्मुखम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object of इष्ट्वा)
TypeNoun
Rootषण् (संख्या) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: षण्णां मुखानां समाहारः/यस्य सः ‘six-faced’
देवम्the god
देवम्:
Apposition (समानााधिकरण; object in apposition to षण्मुखम्)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
नानाvarious
नाना:
Visheshana (विशेषणवत्; qualifies पूजा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाना (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: various)
पूजाwith worship
पूजा:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootपूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular) (अर्थ: ‘by/with worship’)
विधानतःaccording to prescribed procedure
विधानतः:
Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविधानतस् (अव्यय)
Formतसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘according to rule/ordinance’

Narada (teaching in a vrata/ritual context within Book 1.4)

Vrata: Kumāra-vrata

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Ṣaṇmukha (Skanda/Kumāra)

FAQs

It fixes a sacred time (Caitra, bright Ṣaṣṭhī) for the Kumāra-vrata and emphasizes worship done “according to vidhi,” teaching that disciplined observance and properly ordered pūjā are themselves dharma that lead to merit and spiritual uplift.

Bhakti here is expressed as structured devotion—worshipping Ṣaṇmukha with many offerings and reverence—showing that heartfelt devotion is strengthened when performed with scriptural procedure (vidhāna) and a vowed intention (vrata).

It highlights calendrical/ritual precision—identifying the lunar tithi (Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī) and month (Caitra) and insisting on pūjā-vidhi—reflecting applied Jyotiṣa (timing) and Kalpa (ritual procedure).