Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

यच्च बाल्ये कृतं पापं कौमारे वार्द्धकेऽपि यत् । ब्रह्मकूर्चोपवासेन तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

yacca bālye kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ kaumāre vārddhake'pi yat | brahmakūrcopavāsena tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati || 57 ||

Translation

ബാല്യത്തിൽ, കൗമാരത്തിൽ, വാർദ്ധക്യത്തിൽ ചെയ്ത ഏതു പാപവും ബ്രഹ്മകൂർച ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചാൽ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ തന്നെ നശിക്കുന്നു॥५७॥

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever (sin)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; correlating with ‘तत्’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• बाल्ये: in childhood
• बाल्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कृतम्: done/committed
• कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘पापम्’

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (subject of नश्यति)

• कौमारे: in youth/boyhood
• कौमारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वार्द्धके: in old age
• वार्द्धके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्द्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (also/even)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; reiterative relative

• ब्रह्मकूर्चोपवासेन: by the Brahmakūrcha fast
• ब्रह्मकूर्चोपवासेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकूर्च (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; refers to ‘पापम्’

• क्षणात्: from that moment; instantly
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (only/indeed)

• नश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• नश्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context, within the Anukramanika-style summary section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Brahma-kūrca (as upavāsa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the purificatory power of a specific prayāścitta—Brahma-kūrca upavāsa—stating that disciplined fasting undertaken as dharma can eradicate accumulated pāpa from any life-stage.

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

While framed as expiation, the verse supports bhakti indirectly: purification through vrata removes obstacles (pāpa) that hinder steady remembrance and worship, preparing the practitioner for sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—upavāsa as a regulated vow (vrata/prayāścitta) used for purification, a core application of dharma-ritual discipline.