Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नक्तं चैंद्रीं समभ्यर्च्येदैरावतगतां सिताम् । स भवेद्वैवलोके तु भोगभारग्देवयानगः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

naktaṃ caiṃdrīṃ samabhyarcyedairāvatagatāṃ sitām | sa bhavedvaivaloke tu bhogabhāragdevayānagaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Wenn man nachts Indrā (die mit Indra verbundene Göttin) verehrt und sie als strahlend weiß, auf Airāvata reitend, vergegenwärtigt, wird man in der Welt des Vaivasvata zum Träger von Genüssen und zum Reisenden im göttlichen Himmelsfahrzeug.

Word by Word

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Kaladhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• ऐन्द्रीम्: Aindrī (goddess)
• ऐन्द्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐन्द्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine (name/epithet of a goddess)

• समभ्यर्चेत्: should worship
• समभ्यर्चेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg parasmaipada

• ऐरावत-गताम्: situated on Airāvata
• ऐरावत-गताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine; विशेषणम् (qualifying ऐन्द्रीम्): 'gone to/located on Airāvata'

• सिताम्: white/bright
• सिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine; विशेषणम् (qualifying ऐन्द्रीम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg parasmaipada

• वैवलोके: in Vaivaloka
• वैवलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैवलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular masculine (name of a world/realm)

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; emphasis/contrast

• भोग-भारकः: a bearer of enjoyments
• भोग-भारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + भारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; 'bearer of enjoyments'

• देव-यान-गः: one who travels in a divine conveyance
• देव-यान-गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + यान (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; 'one who goes by divine vehicle'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aiṃdrī (Indrā) night worship observance (contextual sub-rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Airavata
• Indrani (Indri)

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-śruti: a specific mode of devatā-arcana (night worship of Aindrī on Airāvata) is said to yield elevated post-mortem rewards—abundance of enjoyments and divine travel—showing the Purāṇic principle that disciplined worship produces corresponding results.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused worship with a clear devotional visualization (white, radiant Aindrī on Airāvata). The verse frames devotion as attentive upāsanā that leads to divine grace and higher realms, emphasizing sincerity and method in devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual timing and procedure are implied: “at night” (naktam) indicates kāla-niyama (time-discipline) within worship, aligning with practical kalpa-style ritual observance rather than grammar or astrology explicitly.