Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अपराह्णे शमीपूजा कार्याऽस्यां प्राग्दिशि द्विज । ततो निशायां प्राग्यामे खङ्गं धनुरिषून्गदाम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

aparāhṇe śamīpūjā kāryā'syāṃ prāgdiśi dvija | tato niśāyāṃ prāgyāme khaṅgaṃ dhanuriṣūngadām || 18 ||

Translation

O Zweimalgeborener, am Nachmittag soll hier die Verehrung des Śamī-Baumes vollzogen werden, nach Osten gewandt. Dann, in der ersten Nachtwache, (verehrt man) Schwert, Bogen, Pfeile und die Keule (Gadā).

Word by Word

• अपराह्णे: in the afternoon
• अपराह्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराह्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी (locative of time)

• शमी-पूजा: worship of the śamī (tree)
• शमी-पूजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (विधेय-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमी (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शम्याः पूजा = worship of the śamī tree)

• कार्यā: should be performed
• कार्यā: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तव्यतार्थक-भाव्यकृदन्त (gerundive: “to be done”), शमीपूजा-विशेषण

• अस्याम्: in this
• अस्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक-सर्वनाम (in this [direction/occasion])

• प्राक्-दिशि: in the eastern direction
• प्राक्-दिशि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + दिश्/दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्राक् एव दिशा = eastern direction)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (adverb: thereafter/then)

• निशायाम्: at night
• निशायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी (at night)

• प्राक्-यामे: in the first watch (of the night)
• प्राक्-यामे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्राक् एव यामः = first watch of the night)

• खङ्गम्: a sword
• खङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (पूज्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धनुः: a bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (धनुः = धनुस्, acc. sg.)

• इषून्: arrows
• इषून्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गदाम्: a mace
• गदाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shami

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined observance: correct time (aparāhṇa, prathama yāma) and correct orientation (east) sanctify the rite, and honoring śamī and sacred implements aligns action with dharma and protection.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, time-bound worship—offering respect to sacred symbols (śamī and weapons) with mindfulness, treating worldly instruments of action as consecrated under divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure and kāla-vicāra (timing by watches of the night) are foregrounded, along with dik-niyama (directional rule—facing east) used in Vedic and Purāṇic rites.