Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

प्रातः स्नात्वा विधानेन नारी शुक्लाम्बरावृता । शुक्लमाल्ययधरा वापि नद्याः संगमवालुकाम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

prātaḥ snātvā vidhānena nārī śuklāmbarāvṛtā | śuklamālyayadharā vāpi nadyāḥ saṃgamavālukām || 9 ||

Translation

Am Morgen, nachdem sie sich nach der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung gebadet hat, soll eine Frau—in weiße Gewänder gehüllt und mit einer weißen Girlande geschmückt—zum sandigen Ufer an der Flussmündung (am Zusammenfluss) gehen.

Word by Word

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: स्ना (having bathed)

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शुक्ल-अम्बर-आवृता: clad in white garments
• शुक्ल-अम्बर-आवृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (शुक्लेन अम्बरेण आवृता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शुक्ल-माल्य-धरा: wearing a white garland
• शुक्ल-माल्य-धरा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (शुक्लं माल्यं धारयति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ निपात (also/even)

• नद्याः: of a river
• नद्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• संगम-वालुकाम्: the sand at the confluence
• संगम-वालुकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक) + वालुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (संगमे वालुका); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instruction within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Lalitā-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nadi (river)
• Sangama (confluence)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and sattva: bathing at dawn, wearing white, and approaching a river confluence (saṅgama) as a tirtha-setting for meritorious observance.

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

By prescribing external purity and a sacred place (saṅgama), it prepares the devotee for focused worship and vow-performance—supporting bhakti through disciplined ritual readiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: timing (morning), rules (vidhi), dress-code (white), and location (tirtha at confluence) form a practical blueprint for correct observance.