Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

राधशुक्लत्रयोदश्यां कामदेवव्रतं स्मृतम् । तत्र गंधादिभिः कामं पूजयेदुपवासवान् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

rādhaśuklatrayodaśyāṃ kāmadevavrataṃ smṛtam | tatra gaṃdhādibhiḥ kāmaṃ pūjayedupavāsavān || 16 ||

Translation

Au treizième jour lunaire (Trayodaśī) de la quinzaine claire du mois de Rādha est prescrit le vœu nommé Kāmadeva-vrata. Ce jour-là, celui qui jeûne doit vénérer Kāma avec des parfums et des offrandes semblables.

Word by Word

• rādha-śukla-trayodaśyām: on the bright thirteenth (tithi) of (the month) Rādha
• rādha-śukla-trayodaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rādha (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + trayodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—राधायाः शुक्ला (राधशुक्ला) तस्यां त्रयोदश्याम् (तत्पुरुष)

• kāmadeva-vratam: the vow of Kāmadeva
• kāmadeva-vratam: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विधेय-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कāmadevasya vratam)

• smṛtam: is stated/remembered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘स्मृतम्’ = “is said/remembered”

• tatra: there/then (in that observance)
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• gandha-ādibhiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gandha-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—गन्धः आदिः येषां तैः (गन्धादि)

• kāmam: Kāma (the deity of desire)
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• upavāsa-vān: one who is fasting
• upavāsa-vān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘उपवासयुक्तः’ (one who is fasting)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kāmadeva-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kāmadeva
• Kāma

FAQs

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

It codifies a specific vrata tied to a lunar date, emphasizing disciplined fasting and focused worship as a means to align desire (kāma) with dharmic ritual order.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through upavāsa (self-restraint) and pūjā (reverent offering). The verse frames devotion as a regulated practice performed on an auspicious tithi with prescribed upacāras like gandha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline—tithi-based timing (śukla trayodaśī in the month of Rādha)—reflecting Jyotiṣa-style ritual scheduling used for vrata observances.