Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

मार्गशुक्लदशम्यां तु चरेदारोग्यकं व्रतम् । गंधाद्यैरर्चयेद्विप्रान् दश तच्चरणोदकम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaśukladaśamyāṃ tu caredārogyakaṃ vratam | gaṃdhādyairarcayedviprān daśa taccaraṇodakam || 48 ||

Translation

Au dixième jour de la quinzaine claire de Mārgaśīrṣa, qu’on observe le vœu Ārogyaka, dispensateur de santé. Qu’on honore dix brāhmaṇas avec des parfums et autres offrandes, et qu’on reçoive dix fois leur caraṇodaka, l’eau de leurs pieds.

Word by Word

• mārga-śukla-daśamyām: on the bright tenth of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārga-śukla-daśamyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (मार्ग-प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (शुक्ल-प्रातिपदिक) + daśamī (दशमी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; compound denoting calendrical date: ‘on the tenth (daśamī) of the bright fortnight (śukla) of Mārgaśīrṣa (mārga)’

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• caret: should observe/practise
• caret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर्-धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ārogyakam: for health
• ārogyakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārogya (आरोग्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with vratam

• vratam: vow/observance
• vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (व्रत-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• gaṃdha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gaṃdha-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃdha (गन्ध-प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः ‘fragrance etc.’

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (अर्च्-धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative not required (simple ‘should worship’)

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (विप्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (दशन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Accusative, Plural (understood with viprān)

• tat-caraṇa-udakam: water from their feet (pādodaka)
• tat-caraṇa-udakam: Karma (कर्म; object—take/receive implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद्-सर्वनाम) + caraṇa (चरण-प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (उदक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘water of their feet’ (caraṇodaka) with pronoun tat ‘their/that’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ārogyaka vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Mārgaśīrṣa (lunar month)
• Daśamī (tithi)

FAQs

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

It teaches a dharmic method for securing well-being (ārogya) through a timed vow (vrata) and respectful service to brāhmaṇas, treating such honoring as a meritorious, purifying act.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverent worship and humble service—offering gandha and related pūjā-items and accepting caraṇodaka as a sanctifying blessing—linking inner devotion with disciplined ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and time-reckoning through tithi and lunar month (Daśamī in Mārgaśīrṣa) are emphasized, showing how observances are scheduled and performed with prescribed counts (ten brāhmaṇas, tenfold caraṇodaka).