Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अथ पौषसिताष्टम्यां श्राद्धमष्टकसंज्ञितम् । पितॄणां तृप्तिदं वर्षं कुलसन्ततिवर्द्धनम् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

atha pauṣasitāṣṭamyāṃ śrāddhamaṣṭakasaṃjñitam | pitṝṇāṃ tṛptidaṃ varṣaṃ kulasantativarddhanam || 88 ||

Translation

والآن، في اليوم القمري الثامن من النصف المضيء من شهر بوشا (Pauṣa)، ينبغي أداء شرادها (Śrāddha) المعروفة باسم «أشتكا» (Aṣṭakā)؛ فهي تُرضي الأرواح السلفية (Pitṛ) سنةً كاملة، وتزيد نماء السلالة واستمرار النسب.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle, then/now)

• पौष-सिता-अष्टम्याम्: on the bright eighth (tithi) of Pauṣa
• पौष-सिता-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौष (प्रातिपदिक) + सिता (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (locative of time)

• श्राद्धम्: Śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्म-सम्भाव्य

• अष्टक-संज्ञितम्: called ‘Aṣṭakā’
• अष्टक-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा/ज्ञा-धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of श्राद्धम्)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• तृप्ति-दम्: giving satisfaction
• तृप्ति-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; √दा, क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of श्राद्धम्)

• वर्षम्: for a year / yearly (benefit)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; फल/परिणाम (result)

• कुल-सन्तति-वर्द्धनम्: increasing the family lineage/progeny
• कुल-सन्तति-वर्द्धनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √वृध्, ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of श्राद्धम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-summary context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aṣṭakā-śrāddha (Aṣṭakā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It elevates Pitṛ-kārya (ancestral duty) as a Dharmic act: performing the Aṣṭakā-Śrāddha on Pauṣa śukla aṣṭamī is said to keep the ancestors satisfied for an entire year and to sustain familial prosperity and continuity.

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports Bhakti indirectly by emphasizing reverent duty (sevā-bhāva) toward one’s forebears; such disciplined Dharma is presented in Purāṇic teaching as supportive of a sattvic life that steadies devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Smārta ritual practice and calendrical timing are foregrounded: the specific tithi (śukla aṣṭamī) and month (Pauṣa) indicate applied Jyotiṣa-based scheduling for Śrāddha observances.