Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Pūrṇimā-vrata (Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa-vrata): Observance, Moon Arghya, and Annual Udyāpana

Devanagari script

मार्गशीर्षे सितेपक्षे पूर्णायां नियतः शुचिः । स्नानं कुर्याद्यथाचारं दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaśīrṣe sitepakṣe pūrṇāyāṃ niyataḥ śuciḥ | snānaṃ kuryādyathācāraṃ dantadhāvanapūrvakam || 4 ||

Translation

मार्गशीर्षे सितपक्षे पूर्णिमायां नियतः शुचिः। दन्तधावनपूर्वकं यथाचारं स्नानं कुर्यात् ॥

Word by Word

• mārgaśīrṣe: in (the month of) Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārgaśīrṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मास-नाम

• site: in the bright (white)
• site: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (pakṣe)

• pakṣe: fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• pūrṇāyām: on the full-moon (tithi)
• pūrṇāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (पौर्णमासी/पूर्णिमा-तिथि)

• niyataḥ: disciplined, restrained
• niyataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्ता implied)

• śuciḥ: pure, clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्ता implied)

• snānam: bath
• snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kuryāt: should do/perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• yathā-ācāram: according to proper custom
• yathā-ācāram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• danta-dhāvana-pūrvakam: preceded by brushing/cleaning the teeth
• danta-dhāvana-pūrvakam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāvana (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pūrṇimā-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (purity) and niyama (discipline) as the foundation for any auspicious observance—beginning with basic bodily cleanliness and bathing in accordance with ācāra.

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

Bhakti in Purāṇic practice is supported by purity and regulated conduct; the verse frames devotion as something approached through orderly preparation of body and mind before sacred acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ācāra (ritual procedure) and basic dharmaśāstric hygiene—timing the observance to the lunar calendar (pūrṇimā in śukla pakṣa) and prescribing the proper sequence of acts.