Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Matsya-purāṇa Anukramaṇikā

Synopsis / Table of Contents

Devanagari script

व्रतं नक्षत्रपुरुषं मार्तण्डशयनं तथा । कृष्णाष्टमीव्रतं तद्वद्रोहिणीचन्द्रसंज्ञितम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

vrataṃ nakṣatrapuruṣaṃ mārtaṇḍaśayanaṃ tathā | kṛṣṇāṣṭamīvrataṃ tadvadrohiṇīcandrasaṃjñitam || 9 ||

Translation

നക്ഷത്ര-പുരുഷം എന്ന വ്രതം, അതുപോലെ മാർതണ്ഡ-ശയനം എന്ന അനുഷ്ഠാനം; കൃഷ്ണാഷ്ടമി വ്രതം, കൂടാതെ രോഹിണീ-ചന്ദ്ര എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള വ്രതവും വിവരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• नक्षत्र-पुरुषम्: Nakṣatra-Puruṣa (a named rite/deity)
• नक्षत्र-पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नक्षत्राणां पुरुषः/नक्षत्रसम्बद्धः पुरुषः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• मार्तण्ड-शयनम्: Mārtaṇḍa-śayana (Sun’s ‘sleep’ rite)
• मार्तण्ड-शयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्तण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मार्तण्डस्य शयनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction/adverb ‘also/likewise’

• कृष्ण-अष्टमी-व्रतम्: the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī vow (8th of dark fortnight)
• कृष्ण-अष्टमी-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कृष्णपक्षस्य अष्टम्याः व्रतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘in the same way/likewise’

• रोहिणी-चन्द्र-संज्ञितम्: designated as ‘Rohiṇī-Candra’
• रोहिणी-चन्द्र-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा + सम्, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘रोहिणीचन्द्र’ इति संज्ञया संज्ञितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework; this verse lists vratas in the anukrama style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nakṣatra-Puruṣa-vrata; Mārtaṇḍa-Śayana-vrata; Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-vrata; Rohiṇī-Candra-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Martanda)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Rohini (Nakshatra)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a concise catalog of dharmic observances (vratas), emphasizing that time-sacred disciplines are aligned with cosmic markers like the Sun, Moon, lunar days (tithi), and nakṣatras.

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

By naming specific vratas tied to divine luminaries (Sūrya/Mārtaṇḍa and Candra), it points to devotional discipline expressed through regulated worship, fasting, and vow-keeping on sacred times.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): the verse references nakṣatra- and tithi-based observances (Rohiṇī, Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī), showing how ritual timing is determined through calendrical and astral calculations.