Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भाद्रे तु शुक्लसप्तम्याममुक्ताभरणव्रतम् । सोमस्य तु महेशस्य पूजनं चात्र कीर्तितम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

bhādre tu śuklasaptamyāmamuktābharaṇavratam | somasya tu maheśasya pūjanaṃ cātra kīrtitam || 32 ||

Translation

في شهر بهادرا (Bhādra)، في اليوم القمري السابع من النصف المضيء، يُؤدَّى نذر «أموكتابهَرَنا» (Amuktābharaṇa). وفي هذا النذر ذُكر أيضًا وجوب عبادة ماهيشا (شِڤا) في وجهه «سوما» (Soma).

Word by Word

• भाद्रे: in Bhādra (month)
• भाद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मासवाचक (in the month Bhādra)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• शुक्ल-सप्तम्याम्: on the bright fortnight’s seventh (tithi)
• शुक्ल-सप्तम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक; समासः कर्मधारयः (शुक्ला या सप्तमी)

• अमुक्ता-भरण-व्रतम्: the vow of ‘not removing ornaments’
• अमुक्ता-भरण-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + भरण (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमुक्ताभरणस्य व्रतम्)

• सोमस्य: of Soma
• सोमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (कर्म/that which is prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this context)

• कीर्तितम्: is declared/mentioned
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तित (कृदन्त, √कीर्त्/√कृत्?; causative sense from √कीर्त् 'to mention')
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (it is stated)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/anukramanika-style listing, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amuktābharaṇa-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśa (Śiva)
• Soma (Moon)

FAQs

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

It links a specific lunar date (Bhādra, Śukla Saptamī) with a named vow (Amuktābharaṇa) and emphasizes devotion expressed through prescribed worship, showing how dharma is practiced through time-bound observances.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined, calendar-based worship: the devotee undertakes a vrata and performs pūjā to Maheśa (Śiva), focusing devotion through a defined ritual commitment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/kalā (time-reckoning) in practice—observance is fixed by the lunar month (Bhādra) and tithi (Śukla Saptamī), showing how ritual timing is integral to vrata performance.