Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

लभते वांछितान्कामानिहामुत्र च नारद । चैत्रकृष्णचतुर्दश्यामुपवासं विधाय च ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

labhate vāṃchitānkāmānihāmutra ca nārada | caitrakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāmupavāsaṃ vidhāya ca || 75 ||

Translation

おおナーラダよ、チャイトラ月の黒分（暗半月）の第十四日カトゥルダシーにウパヴァーサ（断食）を修すれば、この世と来世の両方において望むものを得る。

Word by Word

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• vāṃchitān: desired
• vāṃchitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāṃchita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vāñch)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मविशेषण (adjective of object)

• kāmān: desires, wishes
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural)

• iha: here (in this world)
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• amutra: there (in the other world)
• amutra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: amutra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• caitra-kṛṣṇa-caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth (tithi) of the dark fortnight of Caitra
• caitra-kṛṣṇa-caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem; caturdaśī), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• upavāsam: fast (observance)
• upavāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• vidhāya: having performed/observed
• vidhāya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) उपसर्ग: vi-; क्त्वान्त (gerund)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-śruti for a specific vrata: fasting on Caitra kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī is said to yield desired outcomes across both worldly life and the afterlife, highlighting the Purāṇic link between disciplined observance (upavāsa) and karmic merit.

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

While it speaks in the language of results (desired boons), the practice of upavāsa functions as a devotional discipline—restraining the senses and dedicating the day to sacred intent—commonly integrated with Viṣṇu/Śiva-oriented worship in Purāṇic vrata traditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical ritual precision—month (Caitra), fortnight (kṛṣṇa pakṣa), and tithi (caturdaśī)—reflecting applied Jyotiṣa-style timekeeping for vrata performance.