Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

व्रतेनानेन विप्रर्षे कृतेन विधिना व्रती । रहस्यं गोष्ठजं लब्ध्वा राधापरिकरे वसेत् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

vratenānena viprarṣe kṛtena vidhinā vratī | rahasyaṃ goṣṭhajaṃ labdhvā rādhāparikare vaset || 44 ||

Translation

O Bester der Brahmanen: Wenn der Gelübdehalter dieses Gelübde nach der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung vollzieht und das vertrauliche Geheimnis, das in Gokula geboren ist, erlangt, soll er unter den Gefährten und Dienern Rādhās weilen.

Word by Word

• व्रतेन: by the vow
• व्रतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; demonstrative ‘by this’ (agreeing with व्रतेन)

• विप्र-ऋषे: O brahmin-sage
• विप्र-ऋषे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular; कर्मधारय ‘vipraḥ ca asau ṛṣiḥ’

• कृतेन: performed
• कृतेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; past passive participle ‘done/performed’ (agreeing with व्रतेन)

• विधिना: according to the rule/rite
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• व्रती: the observer of the vow
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रहस्यम्: a secret (esoteric teaching)
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गोष्ठजम्: originating in Gokula/cowherd community
• गोष्ठजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (जन् धातु-जन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष ‘gōṣṭhāt jātam’ (born/derived from the cowherd-settlement)

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having obtained’

• राधा-परिकरे: in Radha’s retinue
• राधा-परिकरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + परिकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘rādhāyāḥ parikaraḥ’ (retinue of Radha)

• वसेत्: should reside
• वसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should dwell/live’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Radha
• Goshta (Gokula/Vraja)

FAQs

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

It teaches that correctly performed vrata (vow) is not merely ritual merit but a gateway to receiving a confidential Vraja-centered devotion (goṣṭhaja-rahasya), culminating in intimate service in Rādhā’s attendant circle.

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

Bhakti here is framed as disciplined devotion: following vidhi in vrata leads to rahasya (inner devotional realization), and the highest fruit is proximity to Rādhā’s parikara—service-oriented participation in the Vraja devotional realm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on ritual procedure (vidhi) and vrata-dharma—practical application of śāstric injunctions for vow observance—rather than a specific technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this verse.