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

Ayant disposé devant Mahādeva sept fruits—le kūṣmāṇḍa (courge cendrée), le fruit de bṛhatī et la grappe de noix d’arec (pūga), entre autres—, on doit ensuite nouer le cordon protecteur (doraka) sur l’autre bras.

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.