Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

आश्विने शुक्लपक्षे तु विज्ञेया शुभसप्तमी । तस्यां कृतस्नानपूजो वाचयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

āśvine śuklapakṣe tu vijñeyā śubhasaptamī | tasyāṃ kṛtasnānapūjo vācayitvā dvijottamān || 40 ||

Translation

ആശ്വിന മാസത്തിലെ ശുക്ലപക്ഷത്തിൽ ശുഭസപ്തമി എന്നു അറിയണം. ആ ദിവസം സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് പൂജ നടത്തി ദ്വിജോത്തമന്മാരാൽ പാരായണം ചെയ്യിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• आश्विने: in (the month of) Āśvina
• आश्विने: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्विन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; मासवाचक (in the month of Āśvina)

• शुक्ल-पक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्ल-पक्षे: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः—शुक्लः पक्षः

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/but)

• विज्ञेया: should be known
• विज्ञेया: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) + ण्यत् (gerundive)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव्य/कर्तव्य (to be known/should be understood)

• शुभ-सप्तमी: the auspicious seventh (lunar day)
• शुभ-सप्तमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—शुभा सप्तमी

• तस्याम्: on that (day)
• तस्याम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृत-स्नान-पूजः: having performed bathing and worship
• कृत-स्नान-पूजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + पूज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—कृतं स्नानं यस्य (कृतस्नान) + (कृतस्नानः) पूजः/पूजकर्मयुक्तः; अर्थतः ‘one who has performed bath and worship’

• वाचयित्वा: having had (them) recite
• वाचयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त्वा
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund); causative—‘having caused to recite/read’

• द्विजोत्तमान्: the best Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (उत्तमाः द्विजाः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada Purana’s instructional narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śubha-saptamī (tithi-observance; vrata implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Āśvina (lunar month)
• Śukla-pakṣa
• Saptamī

FAQs

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

It sanctifies a specific tithi—Āśvina Śukla Saptamī—as auspicious, emphasizing purification (snāna), devotion (pūjā), and merit-making through authorized sacred recitation by learned brāhmaṇas.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through disciplined observance: choosing an auspicious sacred time, performing worship after purification, and supporting śāstra-centered devotion by inviting qualified reciters.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical precision (tithi, month, pakṣa)—a jyotiṣa/kalā-based application—showing how ritual timing and proper recitation are integrated into Dharma practice.