Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

भाद्रशुक्लचतुर्दश्यामनन्तव्रतमुत्तमम् । कर्त्तव्यमेकभुक्तं हि गोधूमप्रस्थपिष्टकम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

bhādraśuklacaturdaśyāmanantavratamuttamam | karttavyamekabhuktaṃ hi godhūmaprasthapiṣṭakam || 23 ||

Translation

ในวันจตุรทศีข้างขึ้น เดือนภัทรปท พึงถือพรตอันประเสริฐชื่อว่า “อนันตวรต” วันนั้นพึงฉันเพียงครั้งเดียว และรับประทานอาหารที่ทำจากแป้งสาลีปริมาณหนึ่งประสถะ॥๒๓॥

Word by Word

• भाद्र-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: on the bright fourteenth of Bhādra (month)
• भाद्र-शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम्

• अनन्त-व्रतम्: the vow of Ananta
• अनन्त-व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject as topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विषय), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनन्तव्रतम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त—‘should be performed’

• एक-भुक्तम्: with a single meal (observance)
• एक-भुक्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Mode)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्—‘once-eaten/with single meal’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक/हेतौ (emphatic particle)

• गोधूम-प्रस्थ-पिष्टकम्: a cake/food made from one prastha of wheat flour
• गोधूम-प्रस्थ-पिष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object implied for offering/eating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधूम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + पिष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विषय/विधेय), एकवचन; द्रव्यनिर्देशः (food item)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ananta-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

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

It establishes the proper time and basic discipline for Ananta-vrata: a regulated vow on Bhādrapada Śukla Caturdaśī with controlled eating, emphasizing steadiness, purity, and commitment in dharma.

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

By prescribing Ananta-vrata as an “excellent” vow with restraint (eka-bhukta), it frames devotion as disciplined worship—showing bhakti not only as feeling but as faithful observance of sacred timing and conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical reckoning (tithi and month in the lunar calendar), aligning ritual practice with traditional jyotiṣa-based timing (Śukla Caturdaśī of Bhādrapada).