Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

इति श्रीबृहन्नांरदीयपुराणं पूर्वभागे प्रथमपादे व्रताख्याने मार्गशीर्षशुल्कैकादशीमासभ्य पौर्णिमापर्यन्तं पञ्चरात्रिव्रतं नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

iti śrībṛhannāṃradīyapurāṇaṃ pūrvabhāge prathamapāde vratākhyāne mārgaśīrṣaśulkaikādaśīmāsabhya paurṇimāparyantaṃ pañcarātrivrataṃ nāmaikaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 21 ||

Translation

Ainsi s’achève le vingt-et-unième chapitre, intitulé « Le vœu Pañcarātra », dans le Premier Pāda du Pūrva-bhāga du vénérable Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa, au sein de la section sur les vœux, décrivant l’observance depuis l’Ekādaśī de la quinzaine claire du mois de Mārgaśīrṣa jusqu’au jour de pleine lune.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative/closure particle)

• śrī: holy, revered
• śrī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरार्थ-उपपद (honorific prefix)

• bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇam: the Bṛhat-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + nāradīya (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रन्थनाम (title)

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former part
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• prathama-pāde: in the first section (pāda)
• prathama-pāde: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• vrata-ākhyāne: in the narration of the vow
• vrata-ākhyāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• mārgaśīrṣa-śukla-ekādaśī: the bright Ekādaśī of Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārgaśīrṣa-śukla-ekādaśī: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-point)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक (the 11th lunar day of bright fortnight in Mārgaśīrṣa)

• māsāt: from the month (i.e., starting in that month)
• māsāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• paurṇimā-paryantam: up to the full-moon day
• paurṇimā-paryantam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; limit in time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paurṇimā (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः, द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण (ending in -am), अर्थः 'पर्यन्तम्' = up to (as far as)

• pañca-rātri-vratam: the five-night vow
• pañca-rātri-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'पञ्चरात्रि' इति कालविशेषेण निर्दिष्टं व्रतम्

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/label)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable usage meaning 'named/called')

• eka-viṃśaḥ: twenty-first
• eka-viṃśaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (twenty-first) qualifying 'adhyāyaḥ'

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Redactor/colophon (Sūta-style chapter ending; not a direct dialogue verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pañcarātri-vrata (Pañcarātra Vow)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Ekādaśī
• Paurṇimā
• Pañcarātra-vrata

FAQs

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

It functions as the chapter colophon, formally sealing the teaching on the Pañcarātra-vrata and marking its ritual time-frame (from Śukla Ekādaśī to Paurṇimā), emphasizing disciplined observance as part of dharma.

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

By naming and framing a specific vrata period, it points to bhakti expressed through regulated worship and vow-keeping—typical of Vaiṣṇava practice where devotion is embodied in time-bound ritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing and the lunar calendar reckoning are central: the verse specifies tithi markers (Ekādaśī and Paurṇimā) and the month (Mārgaśīrṣa), which are essential for correct vrata performance.