Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

पंचवर्षं विधानेन पूर्वोक्तेनैव नारद । आचार्यं पूजयेदंते विप्रानन्यान्धनादिभिः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcavarṣaṃ vidhānena pūrvoktenaiva nārada | ācāryaṃ pūjayedaṃte viprānanyāndhanādibhiḥ || 46 ||

Translation

噢，那罗陀啊，依先前所述之仪轨如法行持五年；期满之时，当恭敬供养阿阇梨（ācārya），并以财物等布施诸余婆罗门。

Word by Word

• paṃca-varṣam: for five years
• paṃca-varṣam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu denoting duration ‘for five years’

• vidhānena: by the prescribed procedure
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• pūrva-uktena: with what was said earlier
• pūrva-uktena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with the previously stated (method)’

• eva: indeed / just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• ācāryam: the teacher
• ācāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pūjayet: should worship / honor
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धा॒तु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adverbial sense ‘at the end’

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• anyān: other
• anyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies ‘viprān’ = other (Brahmins)

• dhana-ādibhiḥ: with wealth etc.
• dhana-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with wealth and the like’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Acharya
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that long religious observances are completed not merely by personal austerity but by gratitude and right conduct—especially honoring the guru and supporting brāhmaṇas through appropriate gifts (dakṣiṇā), which seals the rite’s merit.

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

While not directly teaching a specific bhakti practice, it reflects devotional humility: service to the teacher and respectful giving to the learned are treated as essential expressions of dharmic devotion that complete a sustained observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual praxis (vidhi): following the previously stated procedure and performing the concluding act (ante) with dakṣiṇā—an applied principle of kalpa-style ritual completion and proper closure of a vrata.