Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां निदानं परमं व्रतम् । सोमवारं समारभ्य सार्धमासत्रयं द्विज ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ nidānaṃ paramaṃ vratam | somavāraṃ samārabhya sārdhamāsatrayaṃ dvija || 20 ||

Translation

اے دِوِج! یہ اعلیٰ ترین ورت دھرم، ارتھ، کام اور موکش کا اصل سرچشمہ ہے۔ اسے پیر کے دن سے شروع کر کے ساڑھے تین ماہ تک نبھائے۔

Word by Word

• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्: of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa
• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ + काम + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• निदानम्: cause/source
• निदानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘व्रतम्’

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सोमवारम्: on Monday
• सोमवारम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (time-accusative)

• समारभ्य: starting (from)
• समारभ्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having begun/starting from’

• सार्धमासत्रयम्: three and a half months
• सार्धमासत्रयम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्ध + मास + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: सार्धं मासत्रयम् (अव्ययीभाव-भावार्थ/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोग); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• द्विज: O twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (a ‘parama vrata’ described, not explicitly named here)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Artha
• Kama
• Moksha

FAQs

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

It presents a specific vrata as “supreme” because it is said to generate all four human aims—righteous living, prosperity, rightful enjoyment, and liberation—showing vow-observance as a complete spiritual discipline.

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

By elevating vrata to the status of a direct cause of mokṣa, the verse supports the Purāṇic model where disciplined observances (typically performed with devotion and remembrance of the deity) become a practical container for bhakti and inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual timing and calendrical discipline—starting specifically on a Monday and keeping the observance for a defined duration—reflecting applied jyotiṣa-style scheduling and vrata-vidhi precision.