Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

प्रातर्व्रतं तु संकल्प्य धेनुशृंजगलं शुचि । पीत्वा स्नात्वाथ मध्याह्ने शंखपालादिपन्नगान् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

prātarvrataṃ tu saṃkalpya dhenuśṛṃjagalaṃ śuci | pītvā snātvātha madhyāhne śaṃkhapālādipannagān || 52 ||

Translation

ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳେ ବ୍ରତ ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ କରି ଶୁଚି ହୋଇ ‘ଧେନୁଶୃଙ୍ଗ-ଜଳ’ ପାନ କର; ପରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ମଧ୍ୟାହ୍ନେ ଶଙ୍ଖପାଳ ଆଦି ପନ୍ନଗମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ତର୍ପଣ-ପୂଜନ କର।

Word by Word

• prātaḥ-vratam: the morning vow
• prātaḥ-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prātaḥ (अव्यय) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अव्ययपूर्वपद: 'prātaḥ-kāle vratam'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• saṃkalpya: having resolved
• saṃkalpya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√kḷp (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): 'having resolved'

• dhenu-śṛṅga-jalam: water (from/with) a cow’s horn
• dhenu-śṛṅga-jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध: 'dhenu-śṛṅgāt jalam' / 'water (poured) from/with a cow-horn'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śuci: pure (one)
• śuci: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the doer: 'pure')

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): 'having drunk'

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): 'having bathed'

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (sequencing adverb: 'then')

• madhyāhne: at midday
• madhyāhne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyāhna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• śaṃkhapāla-ādi-pannagān: the serpents beginning with Śaṅkhapāla
• śaṃkhapāla-ādi-pannagān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkhapāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + pannaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ādi-समास: 'śaṃkhapāla-ādīn pannagān'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nāga-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkhapāla
• Nāgas (Pannagas)

FAQs

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

It outlines a disciplined sequence—saṅkalpa (intent), śauca (purity), drinking sanctified water, snāna (bath), and a midday rite—showing that inner resolve and outer purification together sanctify a vrata.

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

Though primarily procedural, it supports bhakti by emphasizing purity and mindful observance; such regulated daily rites are presented as supportive disciplines that steady the devotee’s conduct for higher worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: the verse gives a time-based ritual sequence (morning saṅkalpa, bathing, midday propitiation), reflecting practical liturgical ordering and vrata-vidhi.