Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पुनरारार्तिकं कृत्वा दशधा रूपधारिणम् । विचिंतयन्मृगांकाय दद्यादर्घ्यं समुद्यते ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

punarārārtikaṃ kṛtvā daśadhā rūpadhāriṇam | viciṃtayanmṛgāṃkāya dadyādarghyaṃ samudyate || 35 ||

Translation

Nachdem man erneut das Ārati vollzogen hat und über den Mond—den mit dem Hirschzeichen—als den Zehn-Gestaltigen meditiert, soll man sich erheben und das Arghya (Wasseropfer) darbringen.

Word by Word

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again)

• āra-ārtikam: ārārtika (waving of lights)
• āra-ārtikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āra-ārtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृत्वा-योगे कर्म (object of gerund)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• daśadhā: in tenfold manner
• daśadhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in ten ways)

• rūpa-dhāriṇam: the form-bearer (one who assumes forms)
• rūpa-dhāriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य—(देवम्/हरिम्) implied object of contemplation

• viciṃtayan: contemplating
• viciṃtayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (धातु) → viciṃtayant (कृदन्त/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—समुद्यते इत्यस्य कर्ता

• mṛgāṃkāya: to Mṛgāṅka (moon-marked one)
• mṛgāṃkāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (recipient)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• arghyam: arghya offering (water/oblation)
• arghyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samudyate: rises/sets forth (is about to rise)
• samudyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-yam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘उद्यते’ = rises/sets forth

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined worship-sequence—repeat ārati, meditate on the deity’s manifold forms, then offer arghya—showing that outer ritual is meant to be completed by inner contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent actions (ārati and arghya) joined with focused dhyāna on Chandra’s divine presence, making devotion both heartfelt and methodical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-prayoga (kalpa-oriented practice): the correct order of acts—ārati, dhyāna, then arghya—typical of vrata and upāsanā procedures.