Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

कार्तिकी फाल्गुनी चैत्रीं ज्यैष्ठी पंचदशी सिता । मन्वादयः समाख्याता दत्तस्याक्षयकारिकाः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

kārtikī phālgunī caitrīṃ jyaiṣṭhī paṃcadaśī sitā | manvādayaḥ samākhyātā dattasyākṣayakārikāḥ || 55 ||

Translation

迦尔提迦、颇伽罗那、制多罗与阇耶什吒诸月的白半第十五日（满月日），并连同诸“摩奴始日”（Manvādī）——被宣说为能令布施（dāna）功德不竭、果报无尽。

Word by Word

• kārtikī: (the full-moon day) of Kārtika
• kārtikī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• phālgunī: (the full-moon day) of Phālguna
• phālgunī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phālgunī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• caitrīm: (the day) of Caitra
• caitrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); list-item; expected nominative caitrī (text has caitrīm)

• jyaiṣṭhī: (the day) of Jyaiṣṭha
• jyaiṣṭhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyaiṣṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• paṃcadaśī: the fifteenth lunar day
• paṃcadaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃcadaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sitā: bright (fortnight)
• sitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण (for paṃcadaśī)

• manvādayaḥ: Manv-ādi days (Manu etc.)
• manvādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu+ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समासार्थ: ‘manu-etc.’

• samākhyātāḥ: are designated/called
• samākhyātāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√khyā (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्य/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used predicatively = ‘are called’

• dattasya: of a gift / of what is given
• dattasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• akṣayakārikāḥ: making (the merit of) gifts imperishable
• akṣayakārikāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya+kārikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: ‘causing imperishability’ qualifying (manvādayaḥ)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Purnima-vrata (general; specific named pūrṇimā-vrata not given)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Manvantara

FAQs

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

It identifies specific sacred timings—certain Pūrṇimās and Manvādī days—when dāna becomes akṣaya (imperishable), meaning the merit gained is said to endure and multiply rather than diminish.

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

By emphasizing sacred time (kāla) for offering, it supports bhakti expressed through devotional giving—making one’s offerings on holy tithis as an act of reverence aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical/astronomical reckoning of tithi and pakṣa (a Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga framework) to prescribe when rituals of dāna are considered especially efficacious.