Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

कार्त्तिके नवमी शुद्धा माघे पंचदशी तिथिः । एता युगाद्याः कथिता दत्तस्याक्षयकारिकाः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

kārttike navamī śuddhā māghe paṃcadaśī tithiḥ | etā yugādyāḥ kathitā dattasyākṣayakārikāḥ || 51 ||

Translation

在迦尔提迦月（Kārttika），清净的第九月日（Navamī）；在摩伽月（Māgha），第十五月日（满月，Paurṇimā）——皆被宣说为“瑜伽始日”（Yugādi）。于此时布施（dāna），据说能成就不坏之福德（akṣaya）。

Word by Word

• कार्त्तिके: in Kārttika
• कार्त्तिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मासवाचक

• नवमी: the ninth lunar day
• नवमी: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject of listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• शुद्धा: pure/auspicious
• शुद्धा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तिथेः विशेषण (pure/auspicious)

• माघे: in Māgha
• माघे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मासवाचक

• पञ्चदशी: the fifteenth lunar day
• पञ्चदशी: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject of listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• तिथिः: lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिः: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject of listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एताः: these
• एताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; निर्देशवाचक (demonstrative)

• युग-आद्याः: yuga-beginning (days)
• युग-आद्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (युगस्य आदिः)

• कथिताः: are declared
• कथिताः: क्रिया (Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथित (कृदन्त; √कथ् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively = ‘are said/declared’

• दत्तस्य: of a gift / of giving
• दत्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दान-रूपेण), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘दत्त’ = given gift/act of giving

• अक्षय-कारिकाः: making (the merit) imperishable
• अक्षय-कारिकाः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अक्षयं करोति इति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Yugādi (dāna-focused observance days)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kārttika
• Māgha
• Navamī
• Pañcadaśī
• Yugādi

FAQs

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

It identifies specific auspicious lunar dates (Yugādi tithis) on which dāna (charitable giving) becomes akṣaya—its spiritual merit is said to remain undiminished and continually fruitful.

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

By emphasizing sacred timing for selfless giving, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma: offerings made with faith on holy tithis are treated as especially potent, nurturing devotion through disciplined, heartfelt charity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It applies calendrical science (Jyotiṣa/Vedic time-reckoning) through tithi-identification—Navamī in Kārttika and Pañcadaśī in Māgha—as practical guidance for ritual timing and dāna-phala.