Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

चैत्रे तु शुक्लसप्तम्यां बहिः स्नानं समाचरेत् । स्थंडिले गोमयालिप्ते गौरमृत्तिकयास्तृते ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

caitre tu śuklasaptamyāṃ bahiḥ snānaṃ samācaret | sthaṃḍile gomayālipte gauramṛttikayāstṛte || 2 ||

Translation

ചൈത്രമാസത്തിലെ ശുക്ലസപ്തമിയിൽ പുറത്തു സ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം; ഗോമയലേപം ചെയ്തും ഗൗരമൃത്തിക പകരുകയും ചെയ്ത സ്ഥണ്ഡിലത്തിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• चैत्रे: in (the month of) Caitra
• चैत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (मासे)

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• शुक्लसप्तम्याम्: on the bright seventh (tithi)
• शुक्लसप्तम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल + सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शुक्ला या सप्तमी)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Place adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्थण्डिले: on a prepared ground/altar-spot
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गोमयालिप्ते: smeared with cow-dung
• गोमयालिप्ते: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of स्थण्डिले)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोमय + अलिप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोमयेन अलिप्ते)

• गौरमृत्तिकया: with yellow/whitish clay
• गौरमृत्तिकया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौर + मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (गौरी मृत्तिका)

• आस्तृते: spread/strewn (with)
• आस्तृते: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of स्थण्डिले)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थण्डिले इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within vrata/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saptamī-vrata (Caitra śukla-saptamī; Sūrya context implied from 116.1)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific tithi-based purification rite: bathing on Caitra-śukla-saptamī in a ritually prepared space, emphasizing śauca (purity) as the foundation for vrata and worship.

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

By detailing disciplined preparatory acts (snāna and a purified sthaṇḍila), it frames devotion as supported by proper conduct—cleanliness and rule-based observance that make worship and vows spiritually effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual procedure is implied: tithi timing (Saptamī in Caitra śukla pakṣa) and the practical method of preparing a sacred ground (gomaya-lepana and mṛttikā-āstaraṇa) for rites.