Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स उद्धृत्य पितॄन्गच्छेद्देवलोकं सनातनम् । इषशुक्ल चतुर्द्दश्यां धर्मराजं द्विजोत्तम ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

sa uddhṛtya pitṝngaccheddevalokaṃ sanātanam | iṣaśukla caturddaśyāṃ dharmarājaṃ dvijottama || 43 ||

Translation

Ayant ainsi relevé et délivré ses ancêtres (pitṛ), il atteint le monde éternel des dieux. Au quatorzième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire du mois d’Īṣa (Kārttika), ô meilleur des deux-fois-nés, il parvient auprès de Dharmarāja (Yama).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun (he)

• उद्धृत्य: having uplifted
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु) → उद्धृत्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = ‘having lifted/raised/rescued’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural (the ancestors)

• गच्छेत्: goes/attains
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘would go/should go’ (resultative prescription)

• देव-लोकम्: the world of the gods
• देव-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘देवानां लोकः’); Accusative singular

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ‘देवलोकम्’

• इष-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: on Āśvina bright fourteenth
• इष-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष (प्रातिपदिक; आश्विन-मासस्य नाम) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मास- पक्ष- तिथि-निर्देशः); Locative singular (on the 14th of the bright fortnight of Āśvina)

• धर्म-राजम्: Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्म-राजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; Accusative singular (Yama/Dharmarāja)

• द्विज-उत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘द्विजानाम् उत्तमः’); address

Speaker

Narada (teaching in an anukramaṇikā/summarizing mode, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Devaloka
• Dharmaraja (Yama)

FAQs

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

It links righteous observance to two outcomes: the upliftment of one’s ancestors (pitṛ-uddhāra) and the attainment of higher realms (devaloka), emphasizing that dharmic acts generate transgenerational merit.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti here, it reflects the Purāṇic principle that disciplined sacred observances performed with faith (śraddhā) and dharma-oriented intent become a means to spiritual elevation and benefit to one’s lineage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical precision—month (Īṣa/Kārttika), fortnight (śukla pakṣa), and tithi (caturdaśī)—which aligns with Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning for correctly timing Narada Purana rituals.