Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

सौभाग्यं संततिं देहि सर्वकार्यकरी भव । यथा शाखा प्रशाखाभिर्विस्तृताऽसि महीतले ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

saubhāgyaṃ saṃtatiṃ dehi sarvakāryakarī bhava | yathā śākhā praśākhābhirvistṛtā'si mahītale || 48 ||

Translation

Gewähre mir Glück und Nachkommenschaft; werde zum Vollender all meiner Vorhaben—wie ein Baumzweig, der sich mit vielen Nebenzweigen weithin über die Erde ausbreitet.

Word by Word

• सौभाग्यम्: good fortune
• सौभाग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• संततिम्: progeny/continuity of lineage
• संततिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• देहि: give
• देहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• सर्वकार्यकरी: (O one) who accomplishes all tasks
• सर्वकार्यकरी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + कार्य + करि/करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषण (addressed)

• भव: be/become
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• यथा: just as/as
• यथा: Avyaya-sambandha (अव्ययसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/manner)

• शाखा: a branch
• शाखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशाखाभिः: with sub-branches
• प्रशाखाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• विस्तृता: spread out/expanded
• विस्तृता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्तृ (धातु) → विस्तृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, 2nd person, Singular

• महीतले: on the surface of the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant (prārthaka) addressing a bestower of boons (likely a Devī or auspicious power invoked in prayer within the summary section).

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames dharmic prosperity as a blessing: fortune (saubhāgya), continuity of lineage (saṃtati), and success in righteous efforts, expressed through the image of expansive branching—growth that is stable, natural, and rooted.

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

Bhakti appears here as humble petition (prārthanā) to a higher auspicious power: the devotee seeks not only material well-being but the alignment of all actions with divine support, implying dependence on grace rather than ego-driven effort.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects mantra-prayoga (applied recitation) typical of ritual contexts: clear imperatives (dehi, bhava) and a simile for intended phala; while not technical Vedāṅga instruction, it aligns with kalpa-style prayer language used in vows and rites.