Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

अनेन विधिना सप्त वर्षाणि प्रतिवत्सरम् । कृत्वा व्रतांते वरयेदाचार्यान् सप्त वैदिकान् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

anena vidhinā sapta varṣāṇi prativatsaram | kṛtvā vratāṃte varayedācāryān sapta vaidikān || 40 ||

Translation

ഈ വിധിപ്രകാരം ഓരോ വർഷവും ഏഴ് വർഷം വ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം. വ്രതാന്തത്തിൽ ഏഴ് വൈദിക ആചാര്യന്മാരെ യഥോചിതമായി ആദരിച്ചു ദക്ഷിണ നൽകണം.

Word by Word

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by this’

• विधिना: procedure/rule
• विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; ‘वर्षाणि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण

• प्रतिवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रतिवत्सरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘each year/annually’

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having done/performed’

• व्रत-अन्ते: at the end of the vow
• व्रत-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘at the end of the vow’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वरयेत्: should choose/select
• वरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘to choose/select’

• आचार्यान्: teachers/ācāryas
• आचार्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; ‘आचार्यान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वैदिकान्: Vedic
• वैदिकान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘Vedic’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vow (vrata) is completed not only by personal austerity but also by gratitude and dharmic reciprocity—honoring Vedic teachers through proper gifts at the end.

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

While the verse is ritual-focused, it supports bhakti indirectly by insisting on humility and reverence toward Vedic transmitters of sacred knowledge, which sustains disciplined devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) and the dharmic norm of guru-satkara/guru-dakshina—rewarding qualified ācāryas upon completing a regulated vrata.