Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

तथाऽषाढचतुर्थ्यां तु व्रतमन्यच्छुभावहम् । रथंतराह्वकल्पस्य ह्यादिभूतं दिनं यतः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tathā'ṣāḍhacaturthyāṃ tu vratamanyacchubhāvaham | rathaṃtarāhvakalpasya hyādibhūtaṃ dinaṃ yataḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Cũng vậy, vào ngày Caturthī của tháng Āṣāḍha có một giới nguyện khác đem lại điềm lành, vì ngày ấy được xem là ngày khởi đầu của Kalpa mang tên “Rathaṃtara”.

Word by Word

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

• आषाढ-चतुर्थ्याम्: on the Āṣāḍha-caturthī
• आषाढ-चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ + चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन (sg.); कालाधिकरण

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); व्रतस्य विशेषण

• शुभ-आवहम्: bringing auspiciousness
• शुभ-आवहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); व्रतस्य विशेषण; ‘bringing auspiciousness’

• रथंतर-आह्व-कल्पस्य: of the kalpa called ‘Rathaṃtara’
• रथंतर-आह्व-कल्पस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथंतर + आह्व + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; causal/emphatic)

• आदि-भूतम्: being the first/original
• आदि-भूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); दिनस्य विशेषण—‘being the first/original’

• दिनम्: day
• दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता; in ‘yataḥ’ clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); हेतु-वाक्ये विषय (topic)

• यतः: because/since
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतु/कारणवाचक (causal relative adverb: ‘because/since’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: unnamed auspicious vrata (associated with Āṣāḍha caturthī; linked to Rathaṃtara-kalpa’s first day)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rathaṃtara (Kalpa)

FAQs

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

It identifies Āṣāḍha Caturthī as an auspicious vrata-day and links its merit to sacred timekeeping, declaring it the beginning-day associated with the Rathaṃtara Kalpa.

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

By recommending a vrata tied to a sacred tithi, it supports bhakti through disciplined observance—using time-sanctified vows as a practical framework for sustained devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/astronomical reckoning of tithi and ritual timing (Jyotiṣa-oriented practice), showing how vows are anchored to specific lunar dates and larger kalpa-based sacred chronology.