Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

महाभरण्यां विप्रेद्रं श्रवणद्वादशीदिने । भाद्रपदापरपक्षे द्वितीयायां तथैव च ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

mahābharaṇyāṃ vipredraṃ śravaṇadvādaśīdine | bhādrapadāparapakṣe dvitīyāyāṃ tathaiva ca || 46 ||

Translation

ഹേ വിപ്രശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! മഹാഭരണി നക്ഷത്രത്തിൽ, ശ്രവണ-ദ്വാദശി ദിനത്തിൽ, കൂടാതെ ഭാദ്രപദ കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷത്തിലെ ദ്വിതീയയിലും (ഇത് അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം).

Word by Word

• mahābharaṇyām: on (the nakṣatra) Mahābharaṇī
• mahābharaṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; nakṣatra-name; compound: महा (विशेषण) + भरणी

• vipra-indram: the best of brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘chief of brāhmaṇas’; compound: विप्र + इन्द्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śravaṇa-dvādaśī-dine: on the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī
• śravaṇa-dvādaśī-dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa-dvādaśī-dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘on the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī’; compound: श्रवण + द्वादशी + दिन (सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष)

• bhādrapada-apara-pakṣe: in the latter fortnight of Bhādrapada
• bhādrapada-apara-pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhādrapada-apara-pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the latter fortnight of Bhādrapada’; compound: भाद्रपद + अपर + पक्ष

• dvitīyāyām: on the second lunar day
• dvitīyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘on the second (tithi)’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmins

FAQs

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

It highlights that the efficacy of a prescribed religious observance (vrata/rite) is strengthened by performing it on specific auspicious calendrical combinations—tithi (lunar day), pakṣa (fortnight), māsa (month), and nakṣatra (asterism).

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

By directing the devotee to observe the rite on sacred time-markers, it frames bhakti as disciplined worship aligned with dharmic time—devotion expressed through correctly timed vrata and remembrance of the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy): it uses nakṣatra (Mahābharaṇī, Śravaṇa), tithi (dvādaśī, dvitīyā), and the Bhādrapada kṛṣṇa-pakṣa to specify ritual timing.