Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

देशकालोद्भवैः पुष्पैः सर्वसंपदमाप्नुयात् । नभः शुक्लचतुर्दश्यां पवित्रारोपणं मतम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

deśakālodbhavaiḥ puṣpaiḥ sarvasaṃpadamāpnuyāt | nabhaḥ śuklacaturdaśyāṃ pavitrāropaṇaṃ matam || 20 ||

Translation

以适时适地所生之花供养，便能获得一切吉祥富足。名为“安置/升举圣绳（pavitra）”之仪，规定在纳婆斯月（婆陀罗钵陀，Bhādrapada）明半月第十四日（白十四）。

Word by Word

• देश-काल-उद्भवैः: with flowers arisen from (that) place and time
• देश-काल-उद्भवैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पुष्पैः’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• सर्व-संपदम्: all prosperity
• सर्व-संपदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संपद्/संपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: may obtain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नभः: in the sky / on the (day of) Nabhas (month context)
• नभः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; कालवाचक-प्रयोगः (आकाशे/नभसि इत्यर्थे)

• शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: on the bright fortnight’s fourteenth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम्

• पवित्र-आरोपणम्: the placing/installation of the sacred thread/amulet
• पवित्र-आरोपणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject as topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विषय), एकवचन

• मतम्: is considered (to be proper)
• मतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/मन् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) — ‘इति मतम्’ = ‘is considered’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga summary context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pavitrāropaṇa (pavitra installation/raising rite)

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 worship becomes spiritually fruitful when offerings follow dharma—using flowers appropriate to place and season—and it fixes an auspicious time (Bhādrapada, bright 14th) for the Pavitrāropaṇa rite to secure prosperity and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined, considerate worship: offering what is fitting (deśa-kāla) and observing the prescribed sacred time for a specific rite, showing attentive devotion rather than random or careless ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga-based calendrical discipline (Jyotiṣa): identifying the month Nabhas (Bhādrapada) and the tithi (Śukla Caturdaśī) for performing a named ritual (Pavitrāropaṇa).