Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एवं पुण्या पापहरा नृणा दूर्वाष्टमी द्विज । चतुर्णामपि वर्णानां स्त्रीजनानां विशेषतः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ puṇyā pāpaharā nṛṇā dūrvāṣṭamī dvija | caturṇāmapi varṇānāṃ strījanānāṃ viśeṣataḥ || 51 ||

Translation

So, o Zweimalgeborener, ist die Dūrvāṣṭamī-Observanz höchst verdienstvoll und tilgt die Sünden der Menschen. Sie ist heilsam für alle vier Varṇas und wird besonders den Frauen empfohlen.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya-sambandha (अव्ययसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• पुण्या: meritorious/holy
• पुण्या: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषण (of दूर्वाष्टमी)

• पापहरा: remover of sins
• पापहरा: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषण

• नृणाम्: of men/for people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• दूर्वाष्टमी: the Dūrvā-aṣṭamī (8th day associated with dūrvā grass)
• दूर्वाष्टमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विज: O twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• चतुर्णाम्: of the four
• चतुर्णाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avyaya-sambandha (अव्ययसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also)

• वर्णानाम्: of the social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्त्रीजनानाम्: of womenfolk
• स्त्रीजनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Avyaya-sambandha (अव्ययसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/अधिक्यवाचक (especially)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dūrvāṣṭamī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It declares Dūrvāṣṭamī as a puṇya-producing and pāpa-destroying vrata, emphasizing its broad spiritual accessibility and purificatory power.

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

By praising a specific vrata as sin-removing, it supports bhakti-oriented practice where disciplined observances purify the devotee and strengthen devotion through regular sacred duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa/ritual-dharma application: determining who is eligible for a vrata (all varṇas, especially women) and affirming the ritual’s intended fruit (puṇya and pāpa-kṣaya).