Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एवं चतुर्दशाब्दं च कृत्वा व्रतमनुत्तमम् । धेनुयुग्मान्विते देये व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ caturdaśābdaṃ ca kṛtvā vratamanuttamam | dhenuyugmānvite deye vratasaṃpūrtihetave || 32 ||

Translation

Như vậy, sau khi giữ trọn lời nguyện tối thượng này suốt mười bốn năm, để hoàn mãn nghi lễ, nên làm lễ bố thí kèm theo một đôi bò (dhenu-yugma).

Word by Word

• evam: thus, in this way
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• caturdaśa-abdam: (for) fourteen years
• caturdaśa-abdam: Karma (कर्म; extent/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; dvigu compound meaning ‘fourteen years’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having done/performed

• vratam: vow, observance
• vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, excellent
• anuttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; superlative adjective qualifying vratam

• dhenu-yugma-anvite: when accompanied by a pair of cows
• dhenu-yugma-anvite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; √i with anu)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘endowed with a pair of cows’; agrees with deye (locative absolute/condition)

• deye: in the gift to be given
• deye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (प्रातिपदिक; √dā)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in the thing to be given/at the time of giving’ (contextual)

• vrata-saṃpūrti-hetave: for the completion of the vow
• vrata-saṃpūrti-hetave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; purpose/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘for the purpose (hetu) of completion (saṃpūrti) of the vow’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (anuttama-vrata referenced without a specific name here)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that a long-term vow is spiritually “sealed” through dāna (gift-giving), especially dhenu-dāna, which is presented as a formal means of completing the vrata with merit (puṇya) and ritual wholeness (saṃpūrti).

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, it frames devotion as disciplined practice (vrata) followed by selfless giving (dāna), a common bhakti-aligned ethic where worship culminates in generosity and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Smārta ritual practice: the procedural rule that certain vratas conclude with prescribed gifts, here specifying dhenu-yugma (a pair of cows) as the completion-offering.