Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अथ मार्गसिताद्यायां धनव्रतमनुत्तमम् । नक्तं विष्ण्वर्चनं होमैः सौवर्णीं हुतभुक्तनुम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

atha mārgasitādyāyāṃ dhanavratamanuttamam | naktaṃ viṣṇvarcanaṃ homaiḥ sauvarṇīṃ hutabhuktanum || 38 ||

Translation

Agora, no dia de lua escura do mês de Mārgaśīrṣa, deve-se cumprir o incomparável Dhana-vrata: adorar Viṣṇu à noite, com oferendas ao fogo (homa), oferecendo ouro para ser consumido pelo fogo sagrado.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereafter
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• मार्ग-शित-आद्यायाम्: on the first (day) of the dark fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्ग-शित-आद्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + शित (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: in/on)

• धन-व्रतम्: the wealth-vow (Dhana-vrata)
• धन-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of धनव्रतम्

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: at night)

• विष्णु-अर्चनम्: worship of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object/act to be done)

• होमैः: with oblations/fire-offerings
• होमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental: by means of)

• सौवर्णीम्: golden
• सौवर्णीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of (तनुम्/प्रतिमा implied)

• हुत-भुक्-तनुम्: a form/body of the oblation-eater (Agni)
• हुत-भुक्-तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + भुक् (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object offered/presented); हुतभुक् = अग्नि (fire, eater of oblations)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue with Sanatkumāra, continuing vrata instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dhana-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Agni

FAQs

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

It prescribes Dhana-vrata as a dharmic discipline where prosperity is sought through devotion to Viṣṇu combined with Vedic homa—linking material well-being to sacred restraint, worship, and offering.

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

Bhakti is expressed through viṣṇv-arcana (direct worship of Viṣṇu) performed with vrata-style discipline (nakta observance) and supported by ritual offering (homa), showing devotion as both inner reverence and outer prescribed practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the specification of timing (Mārgaśīrṣa, dark fortnight day), the nakta observance, and the homa method—practical instructions for correct vow-performance.