Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

धर्मराजव्रतं चात्र कथितं तन्निशामय । श्रृतान्नमुदकुंभं च वैशाख्यां वै द्विजोत्तमे ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

dharmarājavrataṃ cātra kathitaṃ tanniśāmaya | śrṛtānnamudakuṃbhaṃ ca vaiśākhyāṃ vai dvijottame || 4 ||

Translation

ഇവിടെ ധർമരാജവ്രതവും പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു; അത് ശ്രവിക്ക. ഹേ ദ്വിജോത്തമാ, വൈശാഖത്തിൽ പാകം ചെയ്ത അന്നവും ജലകുംഭവും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നതും വിധിയാണ്.

Word by Word

• dharma-rāja-vratam: the Dharmarāja vow
• dharma-rāja-vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; “the vow of Dharma-rāja (Yama)”

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

• atra: here/in this context
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place/context (देश/प्रसङ्ग)

• kathitam: is described
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate with “vṛtam”: “is told/has been described”

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of “niśāmaya”

• niśāmaya: listen to/attend to
• niśāmaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); “hear/consider”

• śṛta-annam: cooked food
• śṛta-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛta (कृदन्त; √śru/श्रु? actually √śṛ/शृ ‘to cook/boil’) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; “cooked food” (object implied with giving)

• udaka-kuṃbham: a pot of water
• udaka-kuṃbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; “a water-pot”

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

• vaiśākhyām: in Vaiśākha
• vaiśākhyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśākhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; “in Vaiśākha”

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (वै)

• dvija-uttame: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-uttame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; “O best of twice-born”

Speaker

Suta (narrator) conveying the instructional passage (within the Narada–Sanatkumara teaching frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dharmarāja-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Vaishakha (month)

FAQs

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

It highlights two core dharmic supports—vrata (vowed discipline) and dāna (charity)—by pointing to the Dharmarāja-vrata and recommending timely gifts in Vaiśākha, reinforcing merit through self-restraint and compassionate giving.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu here, it frames devotional life through dharma-based practices: listening attentively to sacred instruction (niśāmaya) and performing vrata and dāna, which traditionally purify conduct and support steadiness in bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual practice is implied: the verse specifies time (Vaiśākha) and prescribes concrete acts (donating cooked food and a water-jar), reflecting applied dharma/ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.