Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

लभते मातृजं सौख्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा । ज्येष्ठमासे शुक्लषष्ठ्यां विधिनेष्ट्वा दिवाकरम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

labhate mātṛjaṃ saukhyaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā | jyeṣṭhamāse śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ vidhineṣṭvā divākaram || 4 ||

Translation

మాతృసంబంధమైన సుఖం లభించును—ఇందులో సందేహం లేదు. జ్యేష్ఠమాస శుక్ల షష్ఠీనాడు దివాకరుడు (సూర్యుడు)ను విధిగా పూజిస్తే ఈ ఫలం సిద్ధించును.

Word by Word

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

• मातृजम्: born of/coming from the mother
• मातृजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण of सौख्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: मातुः जातम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सौख्यम्: happiness
• सौख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of लभते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this matter)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: Pratishedhya (विधेय; ‘to be done’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• विचारणा: consideration/deliberation
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता; with implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्येष्ठमासे: in the month of Jyeṣṭha
• ज्येष्ठमासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: ज्येष्ठ + मास (‘Jyeṣṭha-month’)

• शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: on the bright sixth lunar day
• शुक्लषष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्लषष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधिना: by proper procedure
• विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument; ‘according to rule’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• इष्ट्वा: having worshipped
• इष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• दिवाकरम्: the Sun (Divākara)
• दिवाकरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of इष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: दिवा + कर (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘day-maker’ = Sun)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic, ritual-instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ṣaṣṭhī worship of Divākara (Sun) (month-specific observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Divakara
• Surya
• Aditya

FAQs

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

It teaches a specific tithi-based Surya-upāsanā (Sun worship) whose stated fruit is maternal-origin happiness and well-being, emphasizing certainty of the ritual’s phala when done according to vidhi.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship (upāsanā) of Divākara with faith and proper procedure, showing devotion as a practical, time-sanctified act rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/astronomical timing used in ritual—tithi and māsa selection (Jyeṣṭha, Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī)—reflects Jyotiṣa-based scheduling and Kalpa-style adherence to prescribed vidhi.