Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एवं चतुर्दशाब्दं च कृत्वा व्रतमनुत्तमम् । धेनुयुग्मान्विते देये व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ caturdaśābdaṃ ca kṛtvā vratamanuttamam | dhenuyugmānvite deye vratasaṃpūrtihetave || 32 ||

Translation

Ainsi, après avoir observé ce vœu sans égal durant quatorze années, afin d’en parachever l’accomplissement, qu’on fasse un don accompagné d’une paire de vaches.

Word by Word

• evam: thus, in this way
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• caturdaśa-abdam: (for) fourteen years
• caturdaśa-abdam: Karma (कर्म; extent/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; dvigu compound meaning ‘fourteen years’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having done/performed

• vratam: vow, observance
• vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, excellent
• anuttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; superlative adjective qualifying vratam

• dhenu-yugma-anvite: when accompanied by a pair of cows
• dhenu-yugma-anvite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; √i with anu)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘endowed with a pair of cows’; agrees with deye (locative absolute/condition)

• deye: in the gift to be given
• deye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (प्रातिपदिक; √dā)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in the thing to be given/at the time of giving’ (contextual)

• vrata-saṃpūrti-hetave: for the completion of the vow
• vrata-saṃpūrti-hetave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; purpose/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘for the purpose (hetu) of completion (saṃpūrti) of the vow’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (anuttama-vrata referenced without a specific name here)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that a long-term vow is spiritually “sealed” through dāna (gift-giving), especially dhenu-dāna, which is presented as a formal means of completing the vrata with merit (puṇya) and ritual wholeness (saṃpūrti).

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, it frames devotion as disciplined practice (vrata) followed by selfless giving (dāna), a common bhakti-aligned ethic where worship culminates in generosity and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Smārta ritual practice: the procedural rule that certain vratas conclude with prescribed gifts, here specifying dhenu-yugma (a pair of cows) as the completion-offering.