Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

यावज्जीवं तु वा नार्या कार्य्यं सौभाग्यवांछया । व्रतेनानेन सदृशं स्त्रीणां सौभाग्यदायकम् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

yāvajjīvaṃ tu vā nāryā kāryyaṃ saubhāgyavāṃchayā | vratenānena sadṛśaṃ strīṇāṃ saubhāgyadāyakam || 50 ||

Translation

جو عورت سہاگ و خوش بختی کی خواہش رکھتی ہے، اسے عمر بھر اس ورت کا پالن کرنا چاہیے؛ عورتوں کے لیے سہاگ بخشنے والا اس ورت کے برابر کوئی دوسرا ورت نہیں۔

Word by Word

• yāvat-jīvam: for (one's) whole life
• yāvat-jīvam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालपरिमाणवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverbial: 'as long as life')

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• nāryāḥ: of a woman
• nāryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• kāryam: (it) should be done / is to be performed
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातोः तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यवाचक (what should be done)

• saubhāgya-vāñchayā: with the desire for good fortune
• saubhāgya-vāñchayā: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāñchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'saubhāgyasya vāñchā'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vratena: by (this) vow
• vratena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• anena: by this
• anena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sadṛśam: similar/equal
• sadṛśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• saubhāgya-dāyakam: bestowing good fortune
• saubhāgya-dāyakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक; दा धातोः ण्वुल्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: 'saubhāgyaṃ dāyakam'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nāga-vrata (implied as the subject of the surrounding passage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It elevates vrata (vowed observance) as a lifelong dharmic discipline for cultivating saubhāgya—auspicious well-being and stability—especially within the household life.

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

By stressing steady, lifelong observance, it reflects bhakti’s core principle of nitya-abhyāsa (regular practice); the vow becomes a sustained act of reverence and self-discipline oriented toward auspiciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi) is implied: the verse frames a specific vow as a prescriptive practice to be undertaken regularly, emphasizing disciplined observance and continuity.