Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

निंबपत्रैः स्मृता पूजा भास्करस्य द्विजोत्तम । खखोल्कायेति मंत्रेण प्रणवाद्येन नारद ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

niṃbapatraiḥ smṛtā pūjā bhāskarasya dvijottama | khakholkāyeti maṃtreṇa praṇavādyena nārada || 19 ||

Translation

O Bester der Zweifachgeborenen, es wird gelehrt, dass die Verehrung Bhāskaras (der Sonne) mit Neemblättern zu vollziehen ist. O Nārada, verwende das Mantra „khakholkāya“, eingeleitet vom Praṇava, Oṃ.

Word by Word

• निंब-पत्रैः: with neem leaves
• निंब-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—निंब+पत्र (तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन

• स्मृता: is prescribed/remembered
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is declared/remembered’ (with पूजा)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भास्करस्य: of Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्विज+उत्तम (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• खखोल्काय: “khakholkāya” (mantric word)
• खखोल्काय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खखोल्का (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: मन्त्रपद (quoted mantra-word); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• प्रणव-आद्येन: beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-आद्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—प्रणव+आद्य (तत्पुरुष: ‘beginning with praṇava’); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक? तृतीया, एकवचन (मन्त्रेण इति विशेषण)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Narada
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific, tradition-backed method of Sun-worship—using neem leaves and a pranava-led mantra—showing that devotion is strengthened when performed with correct ritual elements (dravya) and mantra.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined pūjā to Bhāskara, where reverence is joined with mantra-recitation beginning with Oṃ, indicating worship that unites faith with sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (practical application of mantra) and correct ritual procedure are emphasized; the instruction “praṇavādyena” reflects attention to phonetic/recitational order associated with Śikṣā and ritual discipline.