Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Pañcarātra Vow (Haripañcaka Vrata): Observance from Śukla Ekādaśī to Pūrṇimā

Devanagari script

एवं संवत्सरं कार्यं व्रतं पापप्रणाशनम् । पुनः प्राप्ते मार्गशीर्षे कुर्यादुद्यापनं व्रती ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ kāryaṃ vrataṃ pāpapraṇāśanam | punaḥ prāpte mārgaśīrṣe kuryādudyāpanaṃ vratī || 18 ||

Translation

Ainsi, ce vœu destructeur de péchés doit être observé pendant une année entière ; et lorsque revient le mois de Mārgaśīrṣa, le vœtant doit accomplir le rite de clôture (udyāpana).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाणवाचक (duration)

• कार्यम्: to be done/should be performed
• कार्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव्य/कर्तव्यतावाचक कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पापप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of sins
• पापप्रणाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘पापस्य प्रणाशनम्’ (vow as qualifier)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has come
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘प्राप्ते (मार्गशीर्षे)’ locative absolute sense

• मार्गशीर्षे: in Mārgaśīrṣa (month)
• मार्गशीर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गशीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उद्यापनम्: concluding rite (udyāpana)
• उद्यापनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद् + या + पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (the same vrata continued)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mārgaśīrṣa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined continuity: a vrata bears full fruit when maintained for a complete year and formally concluded with udyāpana, making the practice a structured means of pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin).

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

By framing vrata as a sustained, year-long commitment culminating in a dedicated completion rite, it presents bhakti as steady observance and faithful follow-through rather than a one-time act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure is implied: timing the observance by the lunar month (Mārgaśīrṣa) and completing it with udyāpana reflects technical ritual scheduling and completion rules used in vrata-vidhi.