Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

धर्मराजव्रतं चात्र कथितं तन्निशामय । श्रृतान्नमुदकुंभं च वैशाख्यां वै द्विजोत्तमे ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

dharmarājavrataṃ cātra kathitaṃ tanniśāmaya | śrṛtānnamudakuṃbhaṃ ca vaiśākhyāṃ vai dvijottame || 4 ||

Translation

Tại đây, Dharmarāja-vrata đã được thuật giảng—hãy lắng nghe. Và trong tháng Vaiśākha, hỡi bậc tối thắng trong hàng nhị sinh, việc bố thí cơm chín cùng một bình nước (kumbha) cũng được truyền dạy.

Word by Word

• dharma-rāja-vratam: the Dharmarāja vow
• dharma-rāja-vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; “the vow of Dharma-rāja (Yama)”

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• atra: here/in this context
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place/context (देश/प्रसङ्ग)

• kathitam: is described
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate with “vṛtam”: “is told/has been described”

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of “niśāmaya”

• niśāmaya: listen to/attend to
• niśāmaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); “hear/consider”

• śṛta-annam: cooked food
• śṛta-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛta (कृदन्त; √śru/श्रु? actually √śṛ/शृ ‘to cook/boil’) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; “cooked food” (object implied with giving)

• udaka-kuṃbham: a pot of water
• udaka-kuṃbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; “a water-pot”

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• vaiśākhyām: in Vaiśākha
• vaiśākhyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśākhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; “in Vaiśākha”

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (वै)

• dvija-uttame: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-uttame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; “O best of twice-born”

Speaker

Suta (narrator) conveying the instructional passage (within the Narada–Sanatkumara teaching frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dharmarāja-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Vaishakha (month)

FAQs

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

It highlights two core dharmic supports—vrata (vowed discipline) and dāna (charity)—by pointing to the Dharmarāja-vrata and recommending timely gifts in Vaiśākha, reinforcing merit through self-restraint and compassionate giving.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu here, it frames devotional life through dharma-based practices: listening attentively to sacred instruction (niśāmaya) and performing vrata and dāna, which traditionally purify conduct and support steadiness in bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual practice is implied: the verse specifies time (Vaiśākha) and prescribes concrete acts (donating cooked food and a water-jar), reflecting applied dharma/ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.