Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

एवं पौषादिमासेषु पूर्णमास्यामुपोषितः । अर्चयेद्भक्तिसंयुक्तो नारायणमनायमम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ pauṣādimāseṣu pūrṇamāsyāmupoṣitaḥ | arcayedbhaktisaṃyukto nārāyaṇamanāyamam || 21 ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പൗഷം മുതലായ മാസങ്ങളിൽ പൂർണ്ണിമദിനത്തിൽ ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച്, ഭക്തിയോടെ, ക്ലേശ‑ക്ഷയരഹിതനായ നാരായണനെ അർച്ചിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• pauṣa-ādi-māseṣu: in the months beginning with Pauṣa
• pauṣa-ādi-māseṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'in the months beginning with Pauṣa' (पौषादयः मासाः)

• pūrṇamāsyām: on the full-moon day
• pūrṇamāsyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upoṣitaḥ: having fasted
• upoṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-vas (धातु) → upoṣita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhakti-saṃyuktaḥ: endowed with devotion
• bhakti-saṃyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'endowed with devotion' (भक्त्या संयुक्तः)

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anāyamam: free from decay/affliction
• anāyamam: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anāyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pūrṇimā-vrata (monthly full-moon fast and Nārāyaṇa-arcana; months beginning with Pauṣa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links Pūrṇimā upavāsa (fasting) with devoted worship of Nārāyaṇa, presenting disciplined observance and bhakti together as a purifying, merit-giving practice focused on the imperishable Lord.

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

Bhakti is emphasized as the essential inner quality—after fasting, the devotee is instructed to “worship with devotion,” showing that ritual austerity becomes spiritually effective when directed to Nārāyaṇa with heartfelt devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects calendrical and ritual timing (a Jyotiṣa/kalā element used in vrata practice): observing upavāsa specifically on Pūrṇimā and repeating it across designated months (Pauṣa-ādi).