Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

शुक्लाष्टम्यां नभस्यस्य कुर्याद्राधाव्रतं नरः । पूर्ववद्राधिकां हैमीं कलशस्थां प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śuklāṣṭamyāṃ nabhasyasya kuryādrādhāvrataṃ naraḥ | pūrvavadrādhikāṃ haimīṃ kalaśasthāṃ prapūjayet || 41 ||

Translation

Am hellen Aṣṭamī-Tag (śukla) des Monats Nabhasya (Bhādrapada) soll man das Gelübde der Rādhā auf sich nehmen. Wie zuvor beschrieben, verehre man ordnungsgemäß ein goldenes Bildnis der Rādhikā, das auf einem kalaśa (Ritualwasserkrug) steht.

Word by Word

• शुक्ल-अष्टम्याम्: on the bright eighth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘शुक्ला अष्टमी’ (on the bright eighth lunar day)

• नभस्यस्य: of Nabhasya (month)
• नभस्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; मास-नाम (month name)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• राधा-व्रतम्: Rādhā-vow
• राधा-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘राधायाः व्रतम्’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यक्रियावाचक (adverb: as before)

• राधिकाम्: Rādhikā (image)
• राधिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हैमीम्: golden
• हैमीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कलश-स्थाम्: situated in a pot
• कलश-स्थाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलश (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्था)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘कलशे स्थिता’ (placed in a pot)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship well
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching the observance as part of vrata-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rādhā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rādhā (Rādhikā)
• Kalaśa

FAQs

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

It specifies the sacred timing (śuklāṣṭamī in Nabhasya/Bhādrapada) and the proper ritual focus—worship of Rādhikā—showing that devotion is strengthened when performed with correct vrata-kāla (vow timing) and prescribed pūjā-vidhi.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined observance (vrata) and heartfelt worship (pūjā) of Rādhikā, emphasizing embodied devotion—offering reverence through a consecrated form and a sanctified ritual setting (kalaśa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical/ritual timing based on tithi (Aṣṭamī in the śukla pakṣa) and month designation (Nabhasya), reflecting applied jyotiṣa-based vrata scheduling and standard pūjā procedure (kalaśa placement and worship).