Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

यावज्जीवं तु वा नार्या कार्य्यं सौभाग्यवांछया । व्रतेनानेन सदृशं स्त्रीणां सौभाग्यदायकम् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

yāvajjīvaṃ tu vā nāryā kāryyaṃ saubhāgyavāṃchayā | vratenānena sadṛśaṃ strīṇāṃ saubhāgyadāyakam || 50 ||

Translation

സൗഭാഗ്യം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന സ്ത്രീ ജീവിതകാലം മുഴുവൻ ഈ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് സൗഭാഗ്യദായകമായി ഇതിന് തുല്യമായ മറ്റൊരു വ്രതവും ഇല്ല।

Word by Word

• yāvat-jīvam: for (one's) whole life
• yāvat-jīvam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालपरिमाणवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverbial: 'as long as life')

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• nāryāḥ: of a woman
• nāryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• kāryam: (it) should be done / is to be performed
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातोः तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यवाचक (what should be done)

• saubhāgya-vāñchayā: with the desire for good fortune
• saubhāgya-vāñchayā: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāñchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'saubhāgyasya vāñchā'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vratena: by (this) vow
• vratena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• anena: by this
• anena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sadṛśam: similar/equal
• sadṛśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• saubhāgya-dāyakam: bestowing good fortune
• saubhāgya-dāyakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक; दा धातोः ण्वुल्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: 'saubhāgyaṃ dāyakam'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nāga-vrata (implied as the subject of the surrounding passage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It elevates vrata (vowed observance) as a lifelong dharmic discipline for cultivating saubhāgya—auspicious well-being and stability—especially within the household life.

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

By stressing steady, lifelong observance, it reflects bhakti’s core principle of nitya-abhyāsa (regular practice); the vow becomes a sustained act of reverence and self-discipline oriented toward auspiciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi) is implied: the verse frames a specific vow as a prescriptive practice to be undertaken regularly, emphasizing disciplined observance and continuity.