Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Māsopavāsa (Month-long Fast) and Repeated Parāka Observances: Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

स्वयं च बन्धुभिः सार्द्धं भुञ्जीत प्रयतेन्द्रियः । एवं मासोपवासांश्च व्रती कुर्यात्र्रयोदश ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

svayaṃ ca bandhubhiḥ sārddhaṃ bhuñjīta prayatendriyaḥ | evaṃ māsopavāsāṃśca vratī kuryātrrayodaśa || 12 ||

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെ നിയന്ത്രിച്ച്, താനും ബന്ധുക്കളോടൊപ്പം ഭോജനം ചെയ്യണം. ഇങ്ങനെ വ്രതധാരി പതിമൂന്ന് മാസോപവാസ വ്രതങ്ങളും അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), आत्मवाचक (reflexive adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• बन्धुभिः: with relatives
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सार्द्धम्: together (with)
• सार्द्धम्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (meaning 'together with')

• भुञ्जीत: should eat/partake
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रयतेन्द्रियः: one with restrained senses
• प्रयतेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रयतानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य/प्रयते इन्द्रिये), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/रीति-वाचक (thus/in this manner)

• मासोपवासान्: month-long fasts
• मासोपवासान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मासस्य उपवासः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक

• व्रती: a vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्रयोदश: thirteen (times/sets)
• त्रयोदश: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिकवत्) प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-रूपेण प्रयोगः; यहाँ कर्म-विशेषण (count)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the vrata-context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: māsopavāsa (monthly fast observances)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links vrata to inner discipline: fasting is not merely abstinence, but a regulated life of sense-control and righteous conduct, culminating in a sattvic, orderly observance.

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

By emphasizing restraint and faithful completion of prescribed observances, it supports bhakti as steady practice—devotion expressed through disciplined vows and consistent sacred routine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse outlines procedural conduct for vrata—self-restraint, proper completion, and the structured sequence of monthly fast-observances.