Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Pūrṇimā-vrata (Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa-vrata): Observance, Moon Arghya, and Annual Udyāpana

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । अन्यद्व्रतवरं वक्ष्य श्रृणुष्व मुनिसत्तम । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं सर्वदुःखनिबर्हणम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | anyadvratavaraṃ vakṣya śrṛṇuṣva munisattama | sarvapāpaharaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvaduḥkhanibarhaṇam || 1 ||

Translation

സനകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! ഇനി ഞാൻ മറ്റൊരു ശ്രേഷ്ഠ വ്രതം ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു; ശ്രവിക്കൂ. അത് പുണ്യകരം, സർവ്വപാപഹരം, സർവ്വദുഃഖനിവാരണം.

Word by Word

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka
• sanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• anyat: another
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vratavaram)

• vrata-varam: the best vow
• vrata-varam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (varaṃ vratam)

• vakṣye: I will tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• śrṛṇuṣva: listen
• śrṛṇuṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (munīnām sattamaḥ)

• sarva-pāpa-haram: removing all sins
• sarva-pāpa-haram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (sarvāṇi pāpāni harati iti) विशेषण (vrata-varam)

• puṇyam: meritorious, holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (vrata-varam)

• sarva-duḥkha-nibarhaṇam: destroying all sorrow
• sarva-duḥkha-nibarhaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (sarva-duḥkhānāṃ nibarhaṇam) विशेषण (vrata-varam)

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka

FAQs

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

It frames vrata as a dharmic spiritual discipline with transformative power—purifying sin (pāpa) and alleviating existential suffering (duḥkha)—and signals the start of a focused teaching on a “श्रेष्ठ” (vara) vow.

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

While bhakti is not named here, the verse introduces vrata as a practical entry-point into sustained religious observance—typically performed with faith, remembrance, and dedication—supporting a bhakti-oriented life of purity and steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline is implied through the concept of vrata (rule-bound observance), aligning with kalpa-style procedural knowledge (proper vows, timings, and conduct), though no specific Vedanga (like jyotiṣa or vyākaraṇa) is explicitly mentioned in this verse.