Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एतत्कृत्वा व्रतं नारी षोडशद्वादशाब्दकम् । उपायनं विधायाथ व्रतमेतद्विसर्ज्जयेत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

etatkṛtvā vrataṃ nārī ṣoḍaśadvādaśābdakam | upāyanaṃ vidhāyātha vratametadvisarjjayet || 49 ||

Translation

Setelah seorang wanita melaksanakan vrata ini untuk tempoh yang ditetapkan—enam belas atau dua belas tahun—hendaklah ia melakukan upāyana (persembahan penutup), lalu secara rasmi menamatkan dan melepaskan vrata ini.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेष्येण सह

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having done/performed)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• षोडश-द्वादश-आब्दकम्: (lasting) sixteen and twelve years
• षोडश-द्वादश-आब्दकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशन् + द्वादशन् + आब्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (16- and 12-year [duration]) — व्रतम् इति विशेष्येण सह

• उपायनम्: a gift/present
• उपायनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विधाय: having made/arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having arranged/performed)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेष्येण सह

• विसर्जयेत्: should conclude/terminate
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/summary style within Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (multi-year women’s vrata described)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic completeness: a vow is spiritually effective when it is observed for the intended duration and concluded properly with upāyana (a final offering/gift) and formal visarjana (ritual release).

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

By stressing disciplined observance and a reverent conclusion, the verse supports bhakti as steady commitment—devotion expressed through sustained vrata and respectful completion rather than abrupt abandonment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse points to the rule that vratas require a concluding rite—upāyana and visarjana—reflecting structured liturgical practice.