Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणांस्तोषयित्वा च भुञ्जीयाद्वाग्यतः स्वयम् । ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतं ह्येतत्सर्वपातकनाशनम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇāṃstoṣayitvā ca bhuñjīyādvāgyataḥ svayam | brahmakūrcavrataṃ hyetatsarvapātakanāśanam || 56 ||

Translation

Setelah menyenangkan para brāhmaṇa, hendaklah seseorang makan sendiri sambil menahan ucapan dan menjaga kesunyian. Inilah sesungguhnya nazar Brahma-kūrca, suatu amalan yang memusnahkan segala dosa.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्रह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तोषयित्वा: having pleased
• तोषयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: णिच् causative + क्त्वान्त (absolutive): तोषयित्वा = (तुष्→तोषय) ‘having pleased/satisfied’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भुञ्जीयात्: should eat
• भुञ्जीयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (भुञ्जीत/भुञ्जीयात्)

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) समास: वाक्+यतः ‘speech-restrained’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (agreeing with implied ‘he’)

• स्वयम्: oneself; personally
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: the Brahmakūrcha vow
• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकूर्च (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वपातकनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपातकनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध) समास: सर्वपातकस्य नाशनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (predicate adjective of ‘एतत्’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Brahma-kūrca-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It teaches that expiation is not merely personal austerity: one must first honor and satisfy brāhmaṇas, then practice self-restraint—especially control of speech—so the vow becomes a purifying discipline that removes sinful impressions.

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

Though framed as a vrata, it supports bhakti by cultivating humility, reverence for sacred persons, and inner discipline; such purity and restraint are presented as supportive conditions for steady devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual conduct and vrata-vidhi (procedural discipline): honoring qualified recipients (brāhmaṇas) and observing vāg-yama (restraint of speech), a key practical rule within dharma-śāstric practice rather than a technical lesson in grammar or astrology.