Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

आषाढस्य तु पूर्णायां गोपद्मव्रतमुच्यते । चतुर्भुजं महाकायं जांबूनदसमप्रभम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

āṣāḍhasya tu pūrṇāyāṃ gopadmavratamucyate | caturbhujaṃ mahākāyaṃ jāṃbūnadasamaprabham || 13 ||

Translation

À la pleine lune d’Āṣāḍha est prescrite l’observance nommée Gopadma-vrata. On y contemple/représente le Seigneur à quatre bras, de forme immense, rayonnant comme l’or pur (jāmbūnada).

Word by Word

• आषाढस्य: of Āṣāḍha (month)
• आषाढस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Genitive singular (of Āṣāḍha month)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• पूर्णायाम्: on the full-moon (day)
• पूर्णायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular; (on) the full-moon (night/day)

• गोपद्मव्रतम्: the Gopadma vow
• गोपद्मव्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + पद्म + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः: गोपद्म-व्रत = the ‘gopadma’ vow

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) — is said/called

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘four-armed’ (describing the deity)

• महाकायम्: huge-bodied
• महाकायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘great-bodied’

• जाम्बूनदसमप्रभम्: golden in splendour
• जाम्बूनदसमप्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाम्बूनद + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular; समासः: जाम्बूनद-सम-प्रभ = having lustre equal to Jāmbūnada-gold

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration of vrata timings and dhyāna/arcana features)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gopadma-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It fixes a sacred time (Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā) for a specific vow (Gopadma-vrata) and directs the devotee toward Viṣṇu-centered worship through dhyāna (meditation on the Lord’s four-armed, golden radiance).

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined devotional practice—observing a vrata on an auspicious lunar day and focusing the mind on Viṣṇu’s iconic form (caturbhuja) and divine splendor, strengthening remembrance and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual timing is implied through the lunar calendar marker “Pūrṇimā of Āṣāḍha,” reflecting practical observance rules (vrata-kāla) used in dharma and ritual procedure.