Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

लभते वांछितान्कामांस्तत्प्रसादान्न संशयः । आषाढशुक्लषष्ठ्यां वै स्कंदव्रतमनुत्तमम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

labhate vāṃchitānkāmāṃstatprasādānna saṃśayaḥ | āṣāḍhaśuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ vai skaṃdavratamanuttamam || 5 ||

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରସାଦରେ ଇଚ୍ଛିତ କାମନା ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଲଭ୍ୟ ହୁଏ—ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ। ଆଷାଢ଼ମାସର ଶୁକ୍ଲ ଷଷ୍ଠୀରେ ଅନୁତ୍ତମ ‘ସ୍କନ୍ଦ-ବ୍ରତ’ ପାଳିତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• वाञ्छितान्: desired
• वाञ्छितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण of कामान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (प्रातिपदिक; वाञ्छ् (धातु) से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘desired’

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of लभते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तत्: of him/of that (deity)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण ‘of him/of that (deity)’)

• प्रसादात्: from (his) grace
• प्रसादात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; ‘from/through grace’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: no/not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता; with implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आषाढशुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: on the bright sixth (tithi) in Āṣāḍha
• आषाढशुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ + शुक्लषष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: आषाढे (मासे) शुक्लषष्ठी (time specification)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्कन्दव्रतम्: the vow of Skanda
• स्कन्दव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म; implied ‘(perform) the vow’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd; Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: स्कन्दस्य व्रतम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण of स्कन्दव्रतम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana; teaching framed within Narada–Sanatkumara discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Skanda-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Āṣāḍha
• Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī

FAQs

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

It teaches that a properly observed vrata yields results through divine grace (prasāda), emphasizing faith in phala-śruti and the sanctity of timing—Āṣāḍha bright Ṣaṣṭhī—for Skanda-vrata.

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

The verse grounds attainment not merely in effort but in “tat-prasāda” (the deity’s favor), a core bhakti principle: blessings arise from devotional observance and surrender rather than calculation alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical and ritual timing aligned with Jyotiṣa/pañcāṅga practice—identifying the month (Āṣāḍha), fortnight (śukla), and tithi (ṣaṣṭhī) as essential for performing the vrata.