Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च । कृत्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति गोत्रिरात्रव्रताच्च तत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca | kṛtvā yatphalamāpnoti gotrirātravratācca tat || 40 ||

Translation

ആയിരം അശ്വമേധങ്ങളും നൂറ് രാജസൂയങ്ങളും ചെയ്താൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഫലം, അതേ ഫലം ഗോത്രിരാത്ര വ്രതത്തിലൂടെയും ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• aśvamedha-sahasrāṇi: thousands of Aśvamedha sacrifices
• aśvamedha-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘अश्वमेधानां सहस्राणि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• rājasūya-śatāni: hundreds of Rājasūya sacrifices
• rājasūya-śatāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājasūya (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘राजसूयानां शतानि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); having done/performed

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• go-trirātra-vratāt: from the cow-related three-night vow
• go-trirātra-vratāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + trirātra (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्देश/सम्बन्ध: ‘गो-त्रिरात्र-व्रत’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

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

• tat: that (same)
• tat: Pratiyogin/Anuvāda (अनुवाद/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gotrirātra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It elevates the Gotrirātra vrata by declaring its merit equal to extremely grand royal Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing that disciplined observance can yield vast spiritual fruit.

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

By valuing a vow (vrata)—typically performed with purity, restraint, and remembrance of the deity—over costly sacrifices, it supports the Purāṇic theme that sincere devotional discipline can be spiritually decisive.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual prioritization within Dharma: the verse contrasts śrauta yajñas (Aśvamedha, Rājasūya) with a vrata-based observance, reflecting applied Kalpa (ritual discipline) and the Purāṇic simplification of practice for broader eligibility.