Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

अस्यां व्रतं तु संग्राह्यं यावद्वर्षचतुष्टयम् । उपवासेन कर्तव्यं वर्षे वर्षे तु नारद ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

asyāṃ vrataṃ tu saṃgrāhyaṃ yāvadvarṣacatuṣṭayam | upavāsena kartavyaṃ varṣe varṣe tu nārada || 39 ||

Translation

ഈ വിധത്തിൽ ഈ വ്രതം നാലു വർഷം വരെ സ്വീകരിക്കണം. ഹേ നാരദാ, ഓരോ വർഷവും ഉപവാസത്തോടെ തന്നെ ഇത് അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अस्याम्: in this (observance/occasion)
• अस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• संग्राह्यम्: to be undertaken/observed
• संग्राह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विधेय (to be undertaken/accepted)

• यावत्: up to, for as long as
• यावत्: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/अवधि-निर्देशक (as long as/up to)

• वर्षचतुष्टयम्: a period of four years
• वर्षचतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वर्षाणां चतुष्टयम् = four years)

• उपवासेन: by fasting
• उपवासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘should be done’

• वर्षे: in (each) year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचनम्

• वर्षे: year by year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पुनरुक्ति (year after year)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नारद: O Narada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined continuity: a vow bears fruit through sustained observance over a fixed term (four years) and through self-restraint expressed as fasting.

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

By prescribing upavāsa as a repeated yearly practice, it trains the devotee in sense-control and single-pointed intention—supporting steady devotional commitment rather than occasional enthusiasm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style guidance) is implied: the verse specifies duration (four years) and the recurring schedule (year after year) with the key austerity (upavāsa) as the core method.