Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

लभतेऽभीप्सितानर्थान्षण्मुखस्य प्रसादतः । भाद्रमासे कृष्णषष्ट्यां ललिताव्रतमुच्यते ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

labhate'bhīpsitānarthānṣaṇmukhasya prasādataḥ | bhādramāse kṛṣṇaṣaṣṭyāṃ lalitāvratamucyate || 8 ||

Translation

ഷൺമുഖന്റെ പ്രസാദത്താൽ അഭിലഷിത ഫലങ്ങൾ ലഭിക്കുന്നു. ഭാദ്രപദ മാസത്തിലെ കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷ ഷഷ്ഠിയിൽ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്ന ഈ വ്രതം ‘ലലിതാ-വ്രതം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• अभीप्सितान्: desired
• अभीप्सितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीप्सित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• अर्थान्: objects/benefits
• अर्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• षण्मुखस्य: of Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced)
• षण्मुखस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (संख्या) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: द्विगु (षण्णां मुखानां समाहारः/षड्मुखः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रसादतः: by the grace (of)
• प्रसादतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-तसिल् (ablatival adverb), अव्यय; ‘from/through the grace’

• भाद्र-मासे: in the month of Bhādra
• भाद्र-मासे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (भाद्रः मासः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• कृष्ण-षष्ठ्याम्: on the dark sixth (tithi)
• कृष्ण-षष्ठ्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (कृष्णा षष्ठी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ललिता-व्रतम्: the Lalitā-vow
• ललिता-व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (ललितायाः व्रतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive/कर्मणि), आत्मनेपदी

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context attributed to Narada’s narration within Purva-bhaga summaries)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Lalitā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaṇmukha
• Bhādrapada
• Kṛṣṇa-ṣaṣṭhī
• Lalitā-vrata

FAQs

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

It frames a specific vrata (Lalitā-vrata) as a dharmic means to align one’s intention with divine grace—stating that fulfillment of desired aims comes through the prasāda (favor) of Ṣaṇmukha when the vow is observed on the prescribed tithi and month.

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

Bhakti is implied through reliance on prasāda: results are not claimed as mere ritual mechanics, but as gifts arising from the deity’s favor, encouraging devotional performance of the vow with reverence rather than entitlement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/astronomical timing (Jyotiṣa-Vedāṅga) is central: the rite is fixed to Bhādrapada and the specific lunar day Kṛṣṇa-ṣaṣṭhī, showing how tithi-based calendrics govern vrata practice.