Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अथैनां तु समारभ्य व्रतं षोडशवासरम् । महालक्ष्म्याः समुद्दिष्टं सर्वसंपद्विवर्धनम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

athaināṃ tu samārabhya vrataṃ ṣoḍaśavāsaram | mahālakṣmyāḥ samuddiṣṭaṃ sarvasaṃpadvivardhanam || 54 ||

Translation

Ensuite, en commençant cette observance, on doit entreprendre un vœu de seize jours : une ordonnance prescrite pour Mahālakṣmī, qui fait croître toute prospérité et toute bonne fortune.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• एनाम्: this (observance/rite)
• एनाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• समारभ्य: having begun
• समारभ्य: पूर्वकाल (Purvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + √रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having begun'

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• षोडश-वासरम्: lasting sixteen days
• षोडश-वासरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास, व्रतम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• महा-लक्ष्म्याः: of Mahālakṣmī
• महा-लक्ष्म्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• समुद्दिष्टम्: prescribed/declared
• समुद्दिष्टम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + √दिश् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP): 'prescribed/declared'

• सर्व-संपत्-विवर्धनम्: increasing all prosperity
• सर्व-संपत्-विवर्धनम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संपद् (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक; vi+√वृध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (व्रतस्य)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahālakṣmī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahalakshmi
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It presents a specific vrata-vidhi: a sixteen-day observance dedicated to Mahālakṣmī, framed as a dharmic means to cultivate auspiciousness and increase overall prosperity (sarva-saṃpat).

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined worship as vrata—beginning and sustaining a timed observance for Mahālakṣmī—showing devotion as steady practice rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual discipline: the practical structuring of an observance by a defined duration (sixteen days), emphasizing correct procedure and adherence to enjoined practice.