Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

चतुर्मूर्तिव्रतान्येवं कृत्वा द्वादशवत्सरम् । उद्यापनं विधानेन कर्तव्यं फलमिच्छता ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

caturmūrtivratānyevaṃ kṛtvā dvādaśavatsaram | udyāpanaṃ vidhānena kartavyaṃ phalamicchatā || 7 ||

Translation

یوں بھگوان کی چار مُورتियों سے متعلق ورت بارہ برس تک کرکے، جو پھل چاہے اسے مقررہ وِدھی کے مطابق اُدیَاپن (اختتامی رسم) کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• चतुर्-मूर्ति-व्रतानि: the four-form vows
• चतुर्-मूर्ति-व्रतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + मूर्ति + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन (pl.); कर्म (object)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having done/performed’

• द्वादश-वत्सरम्: for twelve years
• द्वादश-वत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); कालपरिमाण (duration as object)

• उद्यापनम्: the concluding rite (udyāpana)
• उद्यापनम्: Karma (कर्म; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); विधेय (predicate-noun)

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (sg.); करण/उपाय (means/manner)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is to be done/should be done’

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karta (कर्ता; participial agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्तृ-विशेषण—‘by one who desires’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Caturmūrti-vrata (vows to the four forms)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual disciplines (vratas) are meant to be completed in full—after sustained observance, the vow’s completion rite (udyāpana) must be performed properly to seal the practice and receive its intended spiritual result.

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

By emphasizing long-term, rule-guided observance for the Lord’s forms, it presents bhakti as steady practice with reverent adherence to sacred procedure, not merely a momentary emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision is highlighted—performing acts “according to vidhi” reflects applied Kalpa (the Vedāṅga dealing with ritual procedure) in the context of vrata completion (udyāpana).