Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मार्गाशीर्षसिताष्टम्यां कालभैरवसन्निधौ । उपोष्य जागरं कृत्वा महापापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

mārgāśīrṣasitāṣṭamyāṃ kālabhairavasannidhau | upoṣya jāgaraṃ kṛtvā mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate || 86 ||

Translation

Am hellen achten Tag (Śuklāṣṭamī) des Monats Mārgaśīrṣa, in der Gegenwart Kālabhairavas, wird derjenige, der fastet und Nachtwache hält, von großen Sünden befreit.

Word by Word

• मार्गशीर्ष-शित-अष्टम्याम्: on the bright (white) eighth (tithi) of Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्गशीर्ष-शित-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गशीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शित/शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘sita’) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक); समासपद
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अष्टमी), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• कालभैरव-सन्निधौ: in the presence of Kālabhairava
• कालभैरव-सन्निधौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालभैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक); कालभैरवसन्निधि (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; देश/स्थानाधिकरण

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-वास् (धातु) → उपोष्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल; धातु: √वास् (1P) with उपसर्ग उप; अर्थ: उपवासं कृत्वा

• जागरम्: vigil (night-wakefulness)
• जागरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल

• महापापैः: from great sins
• महापापैः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पाप (प्रातिपदिक); महापाप (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; अपादानार्थ/वियोग (separation) with passive

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed/released
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kālabhairava-vrata (as described here; specific name not stated in the verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kālabhairava

FAQs

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

It presents a specific vrata-practice—fasting (upavāsa) and night vigil (jāgaraṇa) on Mārgaśīrṣa Śuklāṣṭamī at Kālabhairava’s presence—as a prāyaścitta that purifies and frees one from major sins.

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

Bhakti is shown through disciplined observance: approaching the deity’s sannidhi with reverence, restraining the senses by fasting, and sustaining remembrance through vigil—devotional acts that are said to transform karmic burden.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline tied to Jyotiṣa (tithi and lunar month): observing Śuklāṣṭamī in Mārgaśīrṣa and performing the prescribed vrata components (upavāsa and jāgaraṇa).