Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एकभक्तव्रतो मर्त्यो भानुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । माघशुक्लाद्यदिवसे वह्निं साक्षान्महेश्वरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ekabhaktavrato martyo bhānulokamavāpnuyāt | māghaśuklādyadivase vahniṃ sākṣānmaheśvaram || 41 ||

Translation

Phàm nhân giữ Ekabhakta-vrata, tức chỉ thọ một bữa với lòng chí kính, sẽ đạt đến cõi của Mặt Trời. Vào ngày mồng một của nửa tháng sáng tháng Māgha, nên phụng thờ Thần Lửa, chính là Maheśvara (Śiva) hiện thân.

Word by Word

• एक-भक्त-व्रतः: one who observes the one-meal vow
• एक-भक्त-व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition to एकभक्तव्रतः)

• भानु-लोकम्: the Sun’s world
• भानु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object: destination)

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain/should attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• माघ-शुक्ल-आद्य-दिवसे: on the first day of the bright fortnight of Māgha
• माघ-शुक्ल-आद्य-दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: on the first day of bright fortnight of Māgha)

• वह्निम्: Agni (fire)
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of worship implied)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थे क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly/in person)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to वह्निम्: as Mahādeva)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue setting associated with Sanatkumara tradition in Book 1.4 summaries)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekabhakta-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhanu (Surya)
• Agni (Vahni)
• Maheshvara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It links disciplined observance (Ekabhakta-vrata) with a definite karmic fruit—attainment of Bhānu-loka—and teaches that Agni is a manifest divine form worthy of worship, identified here with Maheśvara.

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

Bhakti is expressed through regulated living: taking a single meal with devotion and honoring divine presence in Agni. The verse presents devotion as practical, vow-based worship that yields spiritual merit and higher realms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style ritual timing is emphasized: the observance is fixed to Māgha, bright fortnight, first day—showing the importance of calendar-based procedure (tithi/fortnight) in Narada Purana ritual instructions.