Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

इति संप्रार्थ्यं कन्यास्तु चतस्रो वा सुवासिनीः । संभोज्यां शुकसिद्वरकज्जलालक्तचर्चिताः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

iti saṃprārthyaṃ kanyāstu catasro vā suvāsinīḥ | saṃbhojyāṃ śukasidvarakajjalālaktacarcitāḥ || 37 ||

Translation

अशी प्रार्थना करून चार कन्यांना—किंवा सुवासिनींना—भोजन घालावे; त्या शुक-हिरवा रंग, पांढरा मोहरी-लेप, काजळ व अलक्तक यांनी अलंकृत असाव्यात।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vakyopanyasa (वाक्योपन्यास)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• saṃprārthyam: having prayed/requested
• saṃprārthyam: Kriya (क्रिया; pūrvakāla/vidhi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + prārth (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थे (gerundive; ‘to be prayed/requested’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (used adverbially: ‘having made the request’)

• kanyāḥ: girls/maidens
• kanyāḥ: Karma (कर्म; to be fed/entertained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• catasraḥ: four
• catasraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Numeral adjective: four)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• suvāsinīḥ: well-dressed (auspicious) women
• suvāsinīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन (Accusative plural; ‘women with good garments/auspiciously dressed’)

• saṃbhojyām: to be fed/entertained
• saṃbhojyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + bhuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, तव्यत् (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (to be fed/entertained; agreeing with implied ‘kanyāḥ’ as object-idea)

• śuka-sidvara-kajjala-ālaktacarcitāḥ: adorned with parrot-green, red dye, collyrium, and lac-dye
• śuka-sidvara-kajjala-ālaktacarcitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक) + sidvara (प्रातिपदिक) + kajjala (प्रातिपदिक) + ālakta (प्रातिपदिक) + carcita (कृदन्त; √carc धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural; qualifying kanyāḥ; ‘adorned with…’)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes vrata-dharma through honoring purity and auspiciousness—feeding maidens or virtuous married women as respected recipients, thereby sanctifying the rite through hospitality (satkāra) and reverence.

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

It frames devotion as embodied worship: bhakti is expressed by serving and honoring auspicious beings connected with the ritual, treating the act of feeding as an offering (upacāra) performed with care and sacred adornment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/ritual procedure—specific injunctions about eligible recipients (kanyā/suvāsinī) and prescribed adornments, showing the technical discipline of vrata-vidhi rather than grammar or astrology.