Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

वह्निना दग्धपापस्तु विष्णुलोके महीयते । पौषशुक्लप्रतिपदि भानुमभ्यर्च्य भक्तितः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

vahninā dagdhapāpastu viṣṇuloke mahīyate | pauṣaśuklapratipadi bhānumabhyarcya bhaktitaḥ || 40 ||

Translation

ज्याची पापे अग्नीने दग्ध झाली आहेत तो विष्णुलोकात मान पावतो. पौष मासाच्या शुक्ल प्रतिपदेला भक्तीने भानू (सूर्य) याची पूजा केल्याने असे पुण्य मिळते.

Word by Word

• वह्निना: by fire
• वह्निना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: by fire)

• दग्ध-पापः: whose sins are burnt
• दग्ध-पापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण of (सः/मर्त्यः implied); दग्ध = √दह् क्त (burnt)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधसूचक (particle: indeed/but)

• विष्णु-लोके: in Viṣṇu’s realm
• विष्णु-लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: in Viṣṇu's world)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: is honored/glorified)

• पौष-शुक्ल-प्रतिपदि: on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of Pauṣa
• पौष-शुक्ल-प्रतिपदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौष (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिपद् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: on the Pratipad of bright fortnight of Pauṣa)

• भानुम्: the Sun
• भानुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (धातु) → अभ्यर्च्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): having worshipped

• भक्तितः: devoutly
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): out of devotion/with devotion

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara brothers, giving phala-śruti style instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (a tithi-based Sūrya/Bhānu worship is prescribed)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhanu (Surya)
• Agni (fire)

FAQs

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

It links ritual devotion (worship of Bhānu) with inner purification: sins are said to be “burnt,” and the devotee is honored in Viṣṇu’s realm, emphasizing merit leading toward divine proximity.

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

The key qualifier is bhaktitaḥ—worship done with devotion. The verse presents bhakti as the decisive force that transforms an act of worship into a liberating, Vishnu-oriented spiritual result.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical ritual precision—pauṣa-śukla-pratipadā (specific lunar month and tithi), reflecting Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning used to time vratas and pūjā in Narada Purana rituals.