Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यसौख्यसौभाग्यरूपाणि प्राप्नुयान्नरः । मार्गशुक्लचतुर्दश्यामेकभुक्तः पुरोदितम् ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

aiśvaryasaukhyasaubhāgyarūpāṇi prāpnuyānnaraḥ | mārgaśuklacaturdaśyāmekabhuktaḥ puroditam || 60 ||

Translation

Un homme obtient prospérité, bonheur, bonne fortune et beauté en ne prenant qu’un seul repas le quatorzième jour (Caturdaśī) de la quinzaine claire du mois de Mārgaśīrṣa, conformément à ce qui a été prescrit plus haut.

Word by Word

• aiśvarya-saukhya-saubhāgya-rūpāṇi: forms of prosperity, happiness, good fortune, and beauty
• aiśvarya-saukhya-saubhāgya-rūpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya + saukhya + saubhāgya + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• prāpnuyāt: should obtain
• prāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp + pra (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mārga-śukla-caturdaśyām: on the bright fortnight’s fourteenth (tithi) of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārga-śukla-caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (मार्गशीर्ष) + śukla + caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्देश-समास: 'in the bright (fortnight) fourteenth of Mārgaśīrṣa'

• eka-bhuktaḥ: having eaten once (only)
• eka-bhuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + bhukta (√bhuj, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त), used adjectivally: 'having eaten once'

• puraḥ: beforehand
• puraḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): 'beforehand/earlier'

• uditam: as prescribed/said
• uditam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udita (√ud + ita; कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त/क्तवत् sense): 'said/prescribed'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/niyama context, within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (a caturdaśī-niyama/vrata instruction in context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-śruti: disciplined restraint (ekabhukta) performed on an auspicious tithi is said to refine one’s life-conditions, yielding prosperity, well-being, and auspiciousness as karmic results.

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

Though the verse is framed as a vrata result, such regulated observances are typically undertaken as offerings to the divine; the discipline supports steadiness of mind and devotional intent, which are foundational to Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline—tithi and lunar fortnight timing (Śukla Caturdaśī in Mārgaśīrṣa)—which aligns with Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning used to schedule vows and rituals.