Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं कृतार्चनो भक्त्या पंच वर्षाणि नारद । उपास्य लभते कामानैहिकामुष्मिकान् शुभान् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ kṛtārcano bhaktyā paṃca varṣāṇi nārada | upāsya labhate kāmānaihikāmuṣmikān śubhān || 37 ||

Translation

噢那罗陀，如是以虔敬行供奉，并持续修持五年者，必得吉祥所愿——此世之利与来世之福，皆可成就。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• कृत-अर्चनः: having performed worship
• कृत-अर्चनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कृत-तत्पुरुषः ('one whose worship has been done' i.e., 'having performed worship')

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्या (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (used indeclinably)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural) (duration)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपास्य: having worshipped
• उपास्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having worshipped/served'

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• कामान्: desired objects/boons
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऐहिक-अमुष्मिकान्: worldly and other-worldly
• ऐहिक-अमुष्मिकान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐहिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अमुष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative: 'worldly and other-worldly') qualifying कामान्

• शुभान्: auspicious
• शुभान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of कामान्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, long-term devotional worship (arcana/upāsanā) is a disciplined sādhana whose fruit includes both auspicious worldly well-being and higher post-death merit, emphasizing continuity rather than sporadic practice.

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

Bhakti is presented as sustained service—performing arcana and remaining engaged in upāsanā for years—by which the devotee becomes eligible for śubha phala (beneficial outcomes) in both realms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights ritual discipline (arcana/upāsanā and its phala). While not naming a Vedāṅga directly, it presumes correct practice guided by Kalpa (ritual procedure) and proper mantra usage typically supported by Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa.