Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

पक्षादर्वाक्तदा गच्छेद्यजमानो यमालयम् । वर्त्यतरं यदा कुर्यात्कार्यं सिद्ध्येद्विलंबतः ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

pakṣādarvāktadā gacchedyajamāno yamālayam | vartyataraṃ yadā kuryātkāryaṃ siddhyedvilaṃbataḥ || 101 ||

Translation

യോഗ്യമായ പക്ഷത്തിന് മുമ്പേ കർമ്മം ചെയ്താൽ യജമാനൻ യമാലയത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുമെന്നു പറയുന്നു. എന്നാൽ പിന്നീടു (യോഗ്യ സമയത്ത്) ചെയ്താൽ കാര്യം സിദ്ധിക്കും—എങ്കിലും വൈകിയാകും.

Word by Word

• पक्षात्: from/within a fortnight
• पक्षात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• अर्वाक्: downwards/this side
• अर्वाक्: Desha (देश/Direction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Directional indeclinable (दिक्-अव्यय) ‘downwards/this side/before’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• यजमानः: the sacrificer/ritual patron
• यजमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• यमालयम्: Yama’s abode
• यमालयम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘abode of Yama’

• वर्त्यतरम्: a thicker (wick)
• वर्त्यतरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तर (तद्धित/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; comparative ‘thicker/greater wick’ (as object of कुर्यात्)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb/conjunction (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कार्यम्: the task/rite
• कार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सिद्ध्येत्: would be accomplished
• सिद्ध्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• विलम्बतः: with delay
• विलम्बतः: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (तसिल्-अर्थे), ‘with delay/slowly’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedāṅga/ritual-timing context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It stresses that dharmic acts must be aligned with proper ritual time (kāla); violating prescribed timing is treated as a serious fault with grave consequences, while correction through postponement can restore success, though not without delay.

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

Indirectly, it implies that sincere religious practice includes disciplined observance of scriptural injunctions; careful adherence to dharma and proper observance supports a purified life that is conducive to bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kāla-nirṇaya (determination of proper time) related to Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and ritual procedure—specifically the suitability of a pakṣa (fortnight) and the principle that wrong timing can spoil or endanger a rite.