Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

सोदकुंभं तु तत्पद्मं कपिलां च द्विजेऽर्पयेत् । तद्दिने तूपवस्तव्यं भोक्तव्यं च परेऽहनि ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sodakuṃbhaṃ tu tatpadmaṃ kapilāṃ ca dvije'rpayet | taddine tūpavastavyaṃ bhoktavyaṃ ca pare'hani || 17 ||

Translation

Then one should offer to a brāhmaṇa a pot filled with water, that lotus, and a tawny kapilā cow. On that day one should observe upavāsa (fasting), and one should eat on the following day.

Word by Word

• स-उदकुम्भम्: a water-pot (with water)
• स-उदकुम्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदकुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—उदक+कुम्भ (तत्पुरुष); ‘स’ = सह (with); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• तत्-पद्मम्: that lotus
• तत्-पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्+पद्म (कर्मधारय/निर्देश); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कपिलाम्: a tawny cow
• कपिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• द्विजे: to a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-दिने: on that day
• तत्-दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्+दिन (कर्मधारय/निर्देश); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• उपवस्तव्यम्: fasting is to be done
• उपवस्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+वस् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be fasted/one should fast’

• भोक्तव्यम्: eating is to be done
• भोक्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be eaten/one should eat’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• परे: on the next
• परे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (अहनि इति विशेष्ये)

• अहनि: day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Dwijas (Brahmins)

FAQs

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

It teaches a dharmic combination of dāna (offering sacred gifts to a qualified Brahmin) and upavāsa (self-restraint through fasting), framing merit as arising from both generosity and disciplined conduct.

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

By prescribing fasting and reverential giving, it supports bhakti as lived practice—reducing attachment (through upavāsa) and honoring sacred order (through dāna), which are common devotional disciplines in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and timing are emphasized: observe the fast on the prescribed day and perform pāraṇa (taking food) on the next day—an applied rule of vrata-vidhi rather than a technical lesson in a specific Vedāṅga.