Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य जुहुयादग्नौ बिल्वपद्मकपायसैः । तदलाभे घृतैर्विप्र गृहेभ्यः समिधस्तिलान् ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya juhuyādagnau bilvapadmakapāyasaiḥ | tadalābhe ghṛtairvipra gṛhebhyaḥ samidhastilān || 67 ||

Translation

بعد إطعامِ البراهمةِ المدعوّين، تُقدَّمُ القرابينُ في النارِ المقدّسة بباياسا (أرزّ بالحليب) مُعَدٍّ بثمارِ البِلفا ومكوّناتِ اللوتس. فإن لم يتيسّر ذلك، يا براهمن، فلتُقدَّم بدلًا منه السَّمْنُ المصفّى (ghee)، مع عيدانِ الوقود الطقسية والسمسم المجلوب من البيت نفسه.

Word by Word

• saṃbhojya: having fed (them)
• saṃbhojya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; 'having fed/entertained'

• juhuyāt: should offer (into fire)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• agnau: in the fire
• agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bilva-padma-ka-pāyasaiḥ: with bilva, padmaka, and pāyasa
• bilva-padma-ka-pāyasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva-padma-ka-pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; dvandva: bilva 'bael', padmaka 'padmaka-wood', pāyasa 'rice-milk pudding'

• tad-alābhe: when that is unavailable
• tad-alābhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad-alābha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in the non-availability of that'

• ghṛtaiḥ: with ghee
• ghṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• gṛhebhyaḥ: from houses
• gṛhebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural

• samidhaḥ: firewood sticks (kindling)
• samidhaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samidh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tilān: sesame seeds
• tilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, addressing 'vipra')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual purity is joined with dharma of hospitality: feeding the worthy first, then sanctifying the act through Agni-oblation, with a permitted substitute when ideal materials are unavailable.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship through offering (homa) performed with sincerity; even when special ingredients are lacking, devotion continues through acceptable substitutes like ghee, samidh, and sesame.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying the sequence (feeding then homa), the prescribed oblation substances, and the rule of substitution (anukalpa) when materials are not obtainable.