Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स्नात्वापराजितां देवीं मांसीबालकवारिभिः । स्नापयित्वार्च्य गन्धाद्यैर्नैवेद्यं शर्करामयम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

snātvāparājitāṃ devīṃ māṃsībālakavāribhiḥ | snāpayitvārcya gandhādyairnaivedyaṃ śarkarāmayam || 5 ||

Translation

Après s’être baigné, qu’on baigne la Déesse Aparājitā avec de l’eau parfumée de māṃsī et de bālaka ; puis, l’ayant honorée par des fragrances et autres offrandes, qu’on présente en naivedya une préparation faite de sucre.

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• अपराजिताम्: (the) Unconquered (Aparājitā)
• अपराजिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (epithet/name)

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मांसी-वालक-वारिभिः: with water (mixed) with māṃsī and vālaka (fragrances)
• मांसी-वालक-वारिभिः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांसी (प्रातिपदिक) + वालक (प्रातिपदिक) + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘with waters (infused) with māṃsī and vālaka’

• स्नापयित्वा: having bathed (her)/having caused (her) to bathe
• स्नापयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) णिच् (causative) → स्नापय (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; णिजन्त (causative) ‘to cause to bathe’

• अर्च्य: having worshipped
• अर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive in -ya), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः: गन्धः आदिः येषां तैः (gandha etc.)

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शर्करा-मयम्: made of sugar
• शर्करा-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: शर्करायाः मयम् (made of sugar)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahāṣṭamī (context continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Aparajita Devi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes upacāra (devotional services) through purity (bathing), abhiṣeka (ritual bathing of the deity), and sattvic offering (sweet naivedya), presenting worship as a disciplined means to invoke the goddess’s victorious, protective power.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through tangible reverence—bathing the deity with fragrant water, honoring her with gandha and related offerings, and presenting naivedya—showing devotion as loving service performed with care and ritual correctness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/ritual procedure (proper sequence of snāna, abhiṣeka, arcana, and naivedya) and supports the applied discipline of mantra-and-ritual observance typical of Purāṇic worship manuals.