Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मृत्युंजयाय च परं सर्वरोगप्रशांतये । चंदनं तालपत्रं च पुष्पमालां तथाऽक्षतान् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

mṛtyuṃjayāya ca paraṃ sarvarogapraśāṃtaye | caṃdanaṃ tālapatraṃ ca puṣpamālāṃ tathā'kṣatān || 68 ||

Translation

Und man soll dies Mṛtyuṃjaya, dem höchsten Herrn, darbringen, zur völligen Besänftigung aller Krankheiten: Sandelholzpaste, ein Palmblatt (als Gabe), eine Blumengirlande und ebenso akṣata, ungebrochene Reiskörner.

Word by Word

• मृत्युञ्जयाय: to Mṛtyuñjaya (Śiva)
• मृत्युञ्जयाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्युञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—मृत्युम् + जयः (कर्मतत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परम्: supreme; excellent
• परम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सर्वरोगप्रशान्तये: for the pacification of all diseases
• सर्वरोगप्रशान्तये: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-रोग-प्रशान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वरोगाणां प्रशान्तिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• चन्दनम्: sandalwood
• चन्दनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तालपत्रम्: palm leaf
• तालपत्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल-पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तालस्य पत्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुष्पमालाम्: a garland of flowers
• पुष्पमालाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—पुष्पाणां माला (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: “thus/also”)

• अक्षतान्: unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Adhyaya’s ritual/benefit context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mṛtyuṃjaya (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It frames healing as a sacred act: illness is approached through śānti (pacification) by devotional offering to Mṛtyuṃjaya, aligning bodily well-being with divine grace and ritual purity.

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

Bhakti is expressed through upacāra (reverential offerings)—sandal, flowers, and akṣata—showing devotion as tangible service to the deity for protection and welfare.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the specific materials (caṃdana, puṣpamālā, akṣata) indicate standardized pūjā-upacāras used for śānti-karmas aimed at health and protection.