Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

निंबपत्रव्रतं चैतत्कर्तॄणां सर्वसौख्यदम् । सप्तमी शर्कराख्यैषा प्रोक्ता तच्चापि मे श्रृणु ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

niṃbapatravrataṃ caitatkartṝṇāṃ sarvasaukhyadam | saptamī śarkarākhyaiṣā proktā taccāpi me śrṛṇu || 21 ||

Translation

ഈ ‘നിംബപത്ര വ്രതം’ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് സർവ്വസൗഖ്യവും നൽകുന്നു. ഈ സപ്തമി ‘ശർക്കരാ’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം; അതും എന്നിൽ നിന്നു കേൾക്കുക.

Word by Word

• निंबपत्रव्रतम्: the vow involving neem leaves
• निंबपत्रव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निंब-पत्र-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; निंब + पत्र + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निंबस्य पत्राणि; तेषां व्रतम्)

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कर्तॄणाम्: of the performers (doers)
• कर्तॄणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वसौख्यदम्: giving all happiness
• सर्वसौख्यदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-सौख्य-द (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + सौख्य + द)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य सौख्यस्य दः/दायकः)

• सप्तमी: the seventh (lunar day)
• सप्तमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शर्कराख्या: named ‘Śarkarā’
• शर्कराख्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्करा-आख्या (प्रातिपदिक; शर्करा + आख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (शर्करा-आख्या = शर्करा-नाम्नी/शर्करा-इति-आख्या)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रोक्ता: has been declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (has been declared)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: also/indeed)

• मे: from me / to me (my)
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (genitive/dative), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: niṃbapatra-vrata; Śarkarā-saptamī (named Saptamī observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nimba (neem)
• Saptami (tithi)

FAQs

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

It highlights vrata-dharma as a practical means to attain sarva-saukhya—comprehensive well-being—by observing a specific vow (Nimbapatra Vrata) tied to a sacred lunar day (Saptamī).

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

By prescribing a vow connected to tithi-observance, it frames devotion as disciplined practice—listening, following instructions, and honoring sacred time—through which devotees cultivate merit and divine favor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-based timekeeping through tithi specification (Saptamī) and its traditional naming (Śarkarā), showing how ritual observances are aligned with calendrical science.