Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

देवदेवप्रसादेन विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । नभः शुक्लतृतीयायां स्वर्णगौरीव्रतं चरेत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

devadevaprasādena viṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt | nabhaḥ śuklatṛtīyāyāṃ svarṇagaurīvrataṃ caret || 21 ||

Translation

蒙诸神之神的恩典，行者得以到达毗湿奴之界。故于那婆斯月（婆陀罗钵陀，Bhādrapada）明半月之第三日（tṛtīyā），当修行名为“金色高丽誓”（Svarṇa-Gaurī Vrata）之誓愿。

Word by Word

• devadeva-prasādena: by the grace of the God of gods
• devadeva-prasādena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: देवदेव (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘of the God of gods’) + प्रसाद (grace)

• viṣṇu-lokam: Viṣṇu’s world (Vaikuṇṭha)
• viṣṇu-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Viṣṇu’s world)

• avāpnuyāt: may attain/should attain
• avāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• nabhaḥ: in the month Nabhas (Bhādrapada)
• nabhaḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); मास-नाम (name of month: Nabhas = Bhādrapada)

• śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the third (lunar day) of the bright fortnight
• śukla-tṛtīyāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛtīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (bright/white fortnight’s third day)

• svarṇa-gaurī-vratam: the vow of Svarṇa-Gaurī
• svarṇa-gaurī-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gaurī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: स्वर्णगौरी (कर्मधारय ‘golden Gaurī’) + व्रत (vow)

• caret: should perform
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Svarṇa-Gaurī Vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devadeva
• Gauri

FAQs

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

It links a specific vrata (Svarṇa-Gaurī Vrata) with the highest devotional fruit—attaining Viṣṇu’s abode—emphasizing that such results arise through divine grace (prasāda) and disciplined observance.

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

Bhakti is shown here as devotion expressed through a vowed practice aligned to sacred time (tithi and month), undertaken with faith that the Lord’s grace grants the ultimate goal, Viṣṇuloka.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical discipline—observance on Nabhas month and Śukla Tṛtīyā—reflecting Jyotiṣa-style tithi reckoning used for timing ritual vows in Purāṇic practice.