Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नभोमासे सिताष्टम्यां दशाफलमिति व्रतम् । उपवासं तु संकल्प्य स्नात्वा कृत्वा च नैत्यिकम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

nabhomāse sitāṣṭamyāṃ daśāphalamiti vratam | upavāsaṃ tu saṃkalpya snātvā kṛtvā ca naityikam || 15 ||

Translation

Im Monat Nabho, am hellen Aṣṭamī, wird das Gelübde namens „Daśāphala“ begangen. Nachdem man das Fasten (upavāsa) gelobt hat, soll man baden und die vorgeschriebenen täglichen Pflichten verrichten.

Word by Word

• नभोमासे: in the month of Nabhas
• नभोमासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभोमास (प्रातिपदिक; नभस् + मास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण — ‘in the month of Nabhas’

• सिताष्टम्याम्: on the bright Aṣṭamī
• सिताष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिताष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक; सिता + अष्टमी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण — ‘on the bright Aṣṭamī’

• दशाफलम्: ‘Daśāphala’
• दशाफलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; naming)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशाफल (प्रातिपदिक; दश + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘इति’ इत्यनेन नामनिर्देश — ‘Daśāphala’ (name)

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; quotation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक (quotative particle) — ‘thus/so called’

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता; topic/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (topic) — ‘the vow’

• उपवासम्: fasting
• उपवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म — ‘fasting’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle) — ‘but/indeed’

• संकल्प्य: having resolved
• संकल्प्य: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — ‘having resolved/undertaken’

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — ‘having bathed’

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — ‘having done/performed’

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

• नैत्यिकम्: the daily obligatory (rite)
• नैत्यिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैत्यिक (प्रातिपदिक; नित्य + ठक्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म — ‘daily obligatory rite’ (as object of ‘having performed’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the vrata procedure within the Purāṇic instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśāphala-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It establishes the correct starting discipline for a vow—choosing the proper sacred time (Śukla Aṣṭamī in Nabhas), taking a formal sankalpa, fasting, bathing, and remaining grounded in daily obligatory duties.

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

By prescribing upavāsa (fasting) with sankalpa and purity practices, it frames devotion as steady, intentional worship supported by self-restraint and regular dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical and tithi-based ritual timing (linked to Jyotiṣa/Vedic timekeeping) and the procedural structure of rites—sankalpa, snāna, and nitya-karman—before undertaking a vrata.