Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अस्यामेव प्रतिपदि नवरात्रं समारभेत् । पूर्वाह्णे पूजयेद्देवीं घटस्थापनपूर्वकम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

asyāmeva pratipadi navarātraṃ samārabhet | pūrvāhṇe pūjayeddevīṃ ghaṭasthāpanapūrvakam || 30 ||

Translation

En ce premier jour lunaire (pratipad) même, il convient de commencer l’observance de Navarātra. Dans la matinée, avant midi, on doit vénérer la Déesse, en commençant par l’installation du vase rituel (ghaṭa-sthāpana).

Word by Word

• अस्याम्: on this (day)
• अस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• प्रतिपदि: on the first lunar day (pratipad)
• प्रतिपदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नव-रात्रम्: Navarātra (nine-night rite)
• नव-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (nine nights)

• समारभेत्: should begin
• समारभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आरभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पूर्वाह्णे: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घट-स्थापन-पूर्वकम्: with pot-installation as the preliminary rite
• घट-स्थापन-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थापन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘with … as a preliminary’

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue with Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Navarātra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī

FAQs

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

It establishes the correct sacred timing (Pratipadā) and the proper ritual sequence—beginning Navarātra with ghaṭa-sthāpana—so the vow is undertaken with order, purity, and intended śakti-invocation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: beginning the vrata on the prescribed day and worshipping Devī with a consecratory act (kalasha/ghaṭa), showing reverent, methodical devotion rather than casual worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/kalā (tithi-based timing: Pratipadā, pūrvāhṇa) and Kalpa (ritual procedure: ghaṭa-sthāpana as a prerequisite to pūjā).