Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतं हुत्वा वन्हौ घृततिलाहुतीः । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याच्छालग्रामसमीपतः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśataṃ hutvā vanhau ghṛtatilāhutīḥ | rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kuryācchālagrāmasamīpataḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Nachdem man im heiligen Feuer hundertacht (108) Gaben aus Ghee und Sesam dargebracht hat, soll man die Nacht hindurch in der Nähe des Śālagrāma wachen.

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तर-शतम्: one hundred and eight
• अष्टोत्तर-शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अष्टोत्तरशत = अष्टेन उत्तरं शतम् (108)

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुक्रम/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having offered (into fire)’

• वन्हौ: in the fire
• वन्हौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्हि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; ‘in the fire’

• घृत-तिल-आहुतीः: oblations of ghee and sesame
• घृत-तिल-आहुतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—घृततिलाहुति = घृतेन तिलैश्च आहुतिः/घृततिलयुक्ता आहुतिः (determinative tatpurusha)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन

• जागरणम्: keeping vigil
• जागरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जागरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शालग्राम-समीपतः: near the Śālagrāma
• शालग्राम-समीपतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास/तसिल्-अव्यय; ‘from/at near the Śālagrāma (stone)’ used adverbially (nearby)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (part of a Vishnu/Śālagrāma-centered observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Agni
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It prescribes a devotional discipline combining homa (108 oblations) with jāgaraṇa (night-long vigil) near Śālagrāma, emphasizing sustained, concentrated Viṣṇu-bhakti supported by Vedic ritual purity.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through inner remembrance but also through embodied acts—offering āhutis and keeping vigil near Śālagrāma—creating continuous attention to Viṣṇu across the night.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-prayoga in practice): counting 108 āhutis, selecting standard offerings (ghṛta and tila), and maintaining prescribed observance (jāgaraṇa) as part of vrata discipline.