Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

सर्वमासोभये पक्षे विधिवच्चाष्टमीदिने । शिवां वापिशिवं प्रार्च्यलभते वांछितं फलम् ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

sarvamāsobhaye pakṣe vidhivaccāṣṭamīdine | śivāṃ vāpiśivaṃ prārcyalabhate vāṃchitaṃ phalam || 99 ||

Translation

毎月、明分と暗分の両半月において、アシュタミー（Aṣṭamī）の日に、規定の作法により女神シヴァー（Śivā）または主シヴァ（Śiva）を礼拝すれば、望む果報を得る。

Word by Word

• सर्व-मासे: in every month
• सर्व-मासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः मासः)

• उभये: in both
• उभये: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), द्विवचन; पक्षे इति विशेषण

• पक्षे: fortnight (pakṣa)
• पक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), यथाविधि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अष्टमी-दिने: on the eighth lunar day
• अष्टमी-दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अष्टम्याः दिनम्)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वाञ्छितम्: desired
• वाञ्छितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (प्रातिपदिक; √वाञ्छ् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; फलम् इति विशेषण; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/ritual instruction context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aṣṭamī-vrata (monthly)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva (Goddess Śivā)

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined, tithi-based worship (Aṣṭamī) performed properly (vidhivat) has reliable spiritual efficacy, granting the devotee the intended fruit while reinforcing regular devotion and ritual order (dharma).

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

Bhakti is expressed through consistent monthly worship of Śiva/Śivā with reverence; the verse emphasizes sincerity and correct observance as a means to receive grace and fulfill righteous desires.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Jyotiṣa/kalā (tithi reckoning): observing Aṣṭamī in both pakṣas each month, and the importance of vidhivat (procedural correctness) in ritual performance.