Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

एवमेषा महासांतिः कर्तव्या प्रतिवत्सरम् । राज्ञा वित्तवतान्येन वर्षमारोग्यमिच्छता ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

evameṣā mahāsāṃtiḥ kartavyā prativatsaram | rājñā vittavatānyena varṣamārogyamicchatā || 49 ||

Translation

Ainsi, ce grand rite de pacification (Mahāśānti) doit être accompli chaque année par un roi, ou toute personne riche, désirant une année de santé et l'absence de maladie.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha/Prakāra (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकार/रीति-अर्थे (adverb of manner)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• महासान्तिः: great pacificatory rite/peace
• महासान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती शान्तिः)

• कर्तव्या: to be done; should be performed
• कर्तव्या: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• प्रतिवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रतिवत्सरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial), काल-अर्थे (temporal)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वित्तवता: wealthy
• वित्तवता: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्तवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of राज्ञा)

• अन्येन: by another/other
• अन्येन: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• वर्षम्: rain; a year (contextually: rain)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छता: desiring
• इच्छता: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifier of राज्ञा)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahāśānti (śānti-karma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames Mahāśānti as a recurring, annual dharmic safeguard—an act of ritual harmony meant to protect life-force and well-being (ārogya) over the whole year.

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

While it is primarily a śānti-ritual instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by encouraging a disciplined yearly offering and reverent dependence on divine order (ṛta), which sustains a devotee’s health and steadiness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse prescribes an annual schedule (prativatsaram) for a specific śānti-karma, indicating time-bound ritual planning and performance standards.