Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

एषा त्रiयोदशी प्रोक्ता वादेयुद्धे जयप्रदा । चतुर्दशीं प्रवक्ष्येऽथ नित्यां वै सर्वमंगलाम् ॥ १९७ ॥

Transliteration

eṣā traiyodaśī proktā vādeyuddhe jayapradā | caturdaśīṃ pravakṣye'tha nityāṃ vai sarvamaṃgalām || 197 ||

Translation

இந்தத் திரயோதசி வாத–விவாதப் போரில் வெற்றியை அளிப்பதாக கூறப்பட்டது. இனி எப்போதும் அனுஷ்டிக்க வேண்டிய, முழுமையாக மங்களமயமான சதுர்தசியை நான் விளக்குகிறேன்।

Word by Word

• eṣā: this (she/this one)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• traiyodaśī: the thirteenth (tithi)
• traiyodaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traiyodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• proktā: is said/declared
• proktā: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) > prokta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively with implied ‘asti’

• vāda-yuddhe: in debate-battle (disputation)
• vāda-yuddhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• jaya-pradā: granting victory
• jaya-pradā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘traiyodaśī’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + pradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• caturdaśīm: the fourteenth (tithi)
• caturdaśīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravakṣye: I will explain/tell
• pravakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक)

• nityām: Nityā (the ‘eternal’ one)
• nityām: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to caturdaśīm)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nityā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• sarva-maṃgalām: all-auspicious
• sarva-maṃgalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘nityām/caturdaśīm’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the vrata/tithi-phala discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Trayodaśī / Caturdaśī (tithi-vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames tithi-observance (vrata aligned to lunar days) as a dharmic discipline whose fruits include both worldly success (victory in debate) and auspiciousness, transitioning from Trayodaśī to the ever-auspicious Caturdaśī.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, it supports bhakti-oriented vrata culture: observing sacred tithis with faith and regularity is presented as a steady devotional practice that generates maṅgala (spiritual and practical well-being).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style timekeeping: understanding lunar tithis (Trayodaśī, Caturdaśī) and their stated results (phala) to plan and perform appropriate vows and observances.