Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ततः क्षमाप्य देवेशं रात्रिखंडं नयेद्व्रती । पौराणिकैः स्तोत्रपाठैर्गीतवाद्यैरनेकधा ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ kṣamāpya deveśaṃ rātrikhaṃḍaṃ nayedvratī | paurāṇikaiḥ stotrapāṭhairgītavādyairanekadhā || 36 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ദേവേശനോട് ക്ഷമ യാചിച്ച് വ്രതധാരി രാത്രിഭാഗം കഴിക്കണം—പുരാണപാരായണം, സ്തോത്രപാരായണം, ഭക്തിഗാനം, വാദ്യസേവ എന്നിവ പലവിധത്തിൽ॥

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• kṣamāpya: having sought pardon
• kṣamāpya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣam (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), णिच् (causative) अर्थे—‘having asked forgiveness/apologized’

• deveśam: the Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्षमाप्य-योगे कर्म

• rātri-khaṃḍam: a portion of the night
• rātri-khaṃḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक) + khaṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nayet: should spend/lead
• nayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paurāṇikaiḥ: with purāṇic (traditional)
• paurāṇikaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurāṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—स्तोत्रपाठैः (qualifies)

• stotra-pāṭhaiḥ: with recitations of hymns
• stotra-pāṭhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stotra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (means)

• gīta-vādyaiḥ: with songs and instruments
• gīta-vādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (means)

• aneka-dhā: in many ways
• aneka-dhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in many ways)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devesha (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow is completed not only by restraint but by humility and devotion—first seeking the Lord’s forgiveness, then sanctifying the night through sacred recitation and worshipful arts.

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

Bhakti is shown as continuous remembrance: stotra-chanting, Purāṇic listening/recitation, and devotional music become ways to keep the mind fixed on the Lord throughout the vigil.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) and liturgical practice—structured stotra-pāṭha and Purāṇic recitation—rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.