Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

दुर्वां कौसुम्भसूत्रं च युगं श्रीफलमेव वा । भक्ष्याणि च नवे शूर्पे प्रतिद्रव्यं तु षोडश ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

durvāṃ kausumbhasūtraṃ ca yugaṃ śrīphalameva vā | bhakṣyāṇi ca nave śūrpe pratidravyaṃ tu ṣoḍaśa || 69 ||

Translation

Man soll Durvā-Gras darbringen, einen Faden in Kusumbha-Farbe (safranrot), ein Joch (yuga) oder auch eine Kokosnuss; ferner essbare Gaben in einem neuen Worfkorb—von jedem Gegenstand sechzehn, für jede dargebrachte Substanz.

Word by Word

• दुर्वाम्: dūrvā grass
• दुर्वाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कौसुम्भसूत्रम्: a safflower-colored thread
• कौसुम्भसूत्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसुम्भ-सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कौसुम्भं (कुसुम्भ-सम्बन्धि) सूत्रम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

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

• युगम्: a pair; yoke
• युगम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रीफलम्: śrīphala (coconut)
• श्रीफलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—श्रियाः फलम् / श्रीसम्बन्धि फलम् (तत्पुरुष)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• भक्ष्याणि: edibles; sweets
• भक्ष्याणि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

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

• नवे: new
• नवे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शूर्पे)

• शूर्पे: in a winnowing basket
• शूर्पे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिद्रव्यम्: for each item; per substance
• प्रतिद्रव्यम्: सम्बन्ध (Distribution/वितरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति-द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable adverbial compound)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: “but/indeed”)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; यहाँ परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण (quantifier)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (vrata-vidhi context; specific name not stated in these verses)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It codifies the discipline of offering (dāna/arcana) through specific, pure ritual materials and a fixed sacred count (sixteen), emphasizing completeness and careful observance in religious rites.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as attentive service—offering simple but auspicious items (dūrvā, thread, coconut, foods) with proper order and purity, turning devotion into concrete ritual action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is foregrounded: the verse specifies approved materials, the requirement of a new ritual vessel (śūrpa), and the prescribed count (ṣoḍaśa) for each offered substance.