Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

उपवासपरा नारी नित्यं कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणाः । अष्टोत्तरशतं विप्र मंत्रेणानेन सादरम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

upavāsaparā nārī nityaṃ kuryātpradakṣiṇāḥ | aṣṭottaraśataṃ vipra maṃtreṇānena sādaram || 42 ||

Translation

ഹേ വിപ്രാ! ഉപവാസനിഷ്ഠയായ സ്ത്രീ നിത്യം പ്രദക്ഷിണ ചെയ്യണം—ഈ മന്ത്രം ഭക്തിയോടെ ജപിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അഷ്ടോത്തരശതം (108) പ്രാവശ്യം.

Word by Word

• upavāsa-parā: devoted to fasting
• upavāsa-parā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'upavāse parā' (devoted to fasting)

• nārī: a woman
• nārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: daily
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपे द्वितीया), 'always/daily'

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pradakṣiṇāḥ: circumambulations
• pradakṣiṇāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aṣṭa-uttara-śatam: one hundred and eight
• aṣṭa-uttara-śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu numeral compound = 108

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• mantreṇa: with a mantra
• mantreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anena: with this
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• sādaram: respectfully
• sādaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपे द्वितीया), 'respectfully/with reverence'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aśoka-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined devotional regimen—fasting, mantra-recitation, and 108 clockwise circumambulations—as a daily act of reverence that purifies conduct and steadies bhakti.

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

Bhakti is shown here as consistent, embodied practice: honoring the deity through respectful pradakṣiṇā accompanied by mantra, supported by self-restraint through upavāsa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice) is emphasized: the prescribed count (108), the clockwise direction of pradakṣiṇā, and coordinated mantra-recitation as a structured observance.