Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

श्रावणे शुक्लषष्ठ्यां तु शरजन्मानमर्चयेत् । उपचारैः षोडशभिर्भक्त्या परमयान्वितः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śrāvaṇe śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ tu śarajanmānamarcayet | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhirbhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ || 7 ||

Translation

On the sixth lunar day (Ṣaṣṭhī) of the bright fortnight in the month of Śrāvaṇa, one should worship Śarajanmā, the One born from the reeds, offering the sixteenfold services with supreme devotion.

Word by Word

• श्रावणे: in (the month of) Śrāvaṇa
• श्रावणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; मासे

• शुक्ल-षष्ठ्याम्: on the bright sixth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-षष्ठ्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (शुक्ला षष्ठी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• शर-जनमानम्: Śarajanmā (born in reeds)
• शर-जनमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (शरे जातः = शरजन्मा); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• षोडशभिः: by sixteen
• षोडशभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (by sixteen)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• परमया: supreme
• परमया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (supreme)

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘endowed/possessed’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue context traditionally framed with Sanatkumara/sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Śrāvaṇa
• Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific sacred time (Śrāvaṇa, Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī) and a complete worship method (sixteen offerings) to focus the mind and heart in disciplined, supreme devotion toward Śarajanmā (Skanda).

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

Even though it is a ritual instruction, the verse explicitly centers efficacy on “paramā bhakti” (supreme devotion), indicating that inner devotion is the essential power behind formal worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical ritual precision—month (māsa: Śrāvaṇa) and lunar day (tithi: Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī)—reflecting Jyotiṣa-style timekeeping applied to vrata and pūjā practice.