Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कूष्मांडं बृहतीपूगमिति सप्त फलानि वै । महादेवस्य पुरतो विन्यस्यापरदोरकम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kūṣmāṃḍaṃ bṛhatīpūgamiti sapta phalāni vai | mahādevasya purato vinyasyāparadorakam || 35 ||

Translation

Placing before Mahādeva seven fruits—namely kūṣmāṇḍa (ash-gourd), the bṛhatī fruit, and the areca-nut cluster (pūga), and the rest—one should then tie the protective cord (doraka) on the other arm.

Word by Word

• कूष्माण्डम्: ash-gourd/winter melon
• कूष्माण्डम्: Karma (कर्म/object listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बृहती-पूगम्: bṛhatī and areca-nut (as items)
• बृहती-पूगम्: Karma (कर्म/object listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक) + पूग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (bṛhatī and pūga as a set)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देशक/उद्धरण-निपात (thus)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन-विशेषणार्थे (agreeing with फलानि)

• फलानि: fruits/items
• फलानि: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• महादेवस्य: of Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पुरतः: in front of
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (in front of)

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विन्यस्य (कृदन्त, वि + नि + √अस्/√स्य?; from √अस्/√न्यस् 'to place', gerund of विन्यस्)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having placed/arranged’

• अपर-दोरकम्: another cord/amulet-thread
• अपर-दोरकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + दोरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अपरं दोरकम् = another sacred thread/cord)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Phala-saptamī (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a simple upacāra (ritual act) of devotion: offering specific fruits to Mahādeva and adopting a protective vow-mark (doraka), symbolizing reverence and self-discipline.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through tangible service—placing offerings before the deity and observing a small vow-practice—showing that devotion is enacted through respectful, prescribed actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: the ordered sequence of offering (vinnyāsa) and wearing a doraka reflects practical liturgical discipline rather than grammar or astrology.