Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन पूजाध्यानजपेक्षणम् । यद्भवेत्तत्समुद्दिष्टं ज्ञानमोक्षप्रदं नृणाम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

kimatra bahunoktena pūjādhyānajapekṣaṇam | yadbhavettatsamuddiṣṭaṃ jñānamokṣapradaṃ nṛṇām || 15 ||

Translation

จะกล่าวมากไปทำไม? การบูชา การภาวนา และการสวดมนต์ (ชปะ) นั่นแลเป็นสาระ ผลที่เกิดจากสิ่งเหล่านี้ได้ชี้ไว้แล้ว—ญาณที่ประทานโมกษะแก่มนุษย์।

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण)

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); used idiomatically with उक्तेन

• उक्तेन: by what is said
• उक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; वच् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ध्यान: meditation
• ध्यान: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• जप: recitation
• जप: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ईक्षणम्: consideration/requirement
• ईक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• भवेत्: may be/occurs
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• समुद्दिष्टम्: has been stated/indicated
• समुद्दिष्टम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्दिष्ट (कृदन्त; सम्+उद्+दिश् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ज्ञान: knowledge
• ज्ञान: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• मोक्ष: liberation
• मोक्ष: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रदम्: granting
• प्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective ‘giving’

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th—षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a summarizing, instructional tone within the Anukramanika-style section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It prioritizes core sādhana—pūjā, dhyāna, and japa—over excessive discourse, stating that their true fruit is jñāna that culminates in mokṣa.

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

By emphasizing pūjā and sustained remembrance (dhyāna, japa), it frames devotion as disciplined practice that ripens into liberating insight rather than mere talk about spirituality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa implies correct mantra usage and recitation discipline (linked with Śikṣā for pronunciation and Vyākaraṇa for correct forms), though the verse mainly stresses practice over technical elaboration.