Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

व्रतेनानेन विप्रर्षे कृतेन विधिना व्रती । रहस्यं गोष्ठजं लब्ध्वा राधापरिकरे वसेत् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

vratenānena viprarṣe kṛtena vidhinā vratī | rahasyaṃ goṣṭhajaṃ labdhvā rādhāparikare vaset || 44 ||

Translation

Ô le meilleur des brahmanes : lorsque l’observant accomplit ce vœu selon le rite prescrit, ayant obtenu le mystère secret né à Gokula, qu’il demeure parmi les serviteurs de Rādhā.

Word by Word

• व्रतेन: by the vow
• व्रतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; demonstrative ‘by this’ (agreeing with व्रतेन)

• विप्र-ऋषे: O brahmin-sage
• विप्र-ऋषे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular; कर्मधारय ‘vipraḥ ca asau ṛṣiḥ’

• कृतेन: performed
• कृतेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; past passive participle ‘done/performed’ (agreeing with व्रतेन)

• विधिना: according to the rule/rite
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• व्रती: the observer of the vow
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रहस्यम्: a secret (esoteric teaching)
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गोष्ठजम्: originating in Gokula/cowherd community
• गोष्ठजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (जन् धातु-जन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष ‘gōṣṭhāt jātam’ (born/derived from the cowherd-settlement)

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having obtained’

• राधा-परिकरे: in Radha’s retinue
• राधा-परिकरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + परिकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘rādhāyāḥ parikaraḥ’ (retinue of Radha)

• वसेत्: should reside
• वसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should dwell/live’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Radha
• Goshta (Gokula/Vraja)

FAQs

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

It teaches that correctly performed vrata (vow) is not merely ritual merit but a gateway to receiving a confidential Vraja-centered devotion (goṣṭhaja-rahasya), culminating in intimate service in Rādhā’s attendant circle.

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

Bhakti here is framed as disciplined devotion: following vidhi in vrata leads to rahasya (inner devotional realization), and the highest fruit is proximity to Rādhā’s parikara—service-oriented participation in the Vraja devotional realm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on ritual procedure (vidhi) and vrata-dharma—practical application of śāstric injunctions for vow observance—rather than a specific technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this verse.