Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Matsya-purāṇa Anukramaṇikā

Synopsis / Table of Contents

Devanagari script

मेरुप्रदानं दशधा ग्रहशांतिस्तथैव च । ग्रहस्वरूपकथनं तथा शिवचतुर्दशी ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

merupradānaṃ daśadhā grahaśāṃtistathaiva ca | grahasvarūpakathanaṃ tathā śivacaturdaśī || 14 ||

Translation

ยังกล่าวถึงทานชื่อ ‘เมรุทาน’ (Meru-dāna), วิธีสงบเคราะห์ทั้งสิบประการ, การอธิบายสภาวะที่แท้ของคเคราะห์ (graha), และพรตศิวจตุรทศี (Śiva-caturdaśī)

Word by Word

• मेरुप्रदानम्: donation of (a) Meru (mountain-shaped gift)
• मेरुप्रदानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु-प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (Meru + pradāna = donation)

• दशधा: in ten ways
• दशधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in ten ways)

• ग्रहशान्तिः: pacification of the planets
• ग्रहशान्तिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह-शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (graha = planet + śānti = pacification)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• ग्रहस्वरूपकथनम्: description of the planets' true forms
• ग्रहस्वरूपकथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह-स्वरूप-कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (graha + svarūpa = true form + kathana = narration)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (also)

• शिवचतुर्दशी: Śiva-Caturdaśī (the 14th day sacred to Śiva)
• शिवचतुर्दशी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (Śiva + caturdaśī = 14th lunar day)

Speaker

Suta (summarizing the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramaṇikā style narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śiva-caturdaśī; Meru-pradāna (dāna topic)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Graha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a contents-marker, indicating that the text teaches dharmic supports—charity (Meru-dāna), planetary remedies (graha-śānti), doctrinal understanding of grahas, and a Śiva-related vow—showing how ritual, knowledge, and observance are integrated for auspiciousness and spiritual steadiness.

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

By pointing to Śiva-caturdaśī as a vrata, it highlights devotion expressed through disciplined observance (upavāsa, pūjā, and niyama), where bhakti is practiced as regular worship and sacred timing rather than only as abstract belief.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It signals Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) through graha-śānti and graha-svarūpa—practical guidance on planetary influences and remedial rites aligned with lunar days (tithi) such as caturdaśī.