Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

शुक्लाष्टम्यां नभस्यस्य कुर्याद्राधाव्रतं नरः । पूर्ववद्राधिकां हैमीं कलशस्थां प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śuklāṣṭamyāṃ nabhasyasya kuryādrādhāvrataṃ naraḥ | pūrvavadrādhikāṃ haimīṃ kalaśasthāṃ prapūjayet || 41 ||

Translation

നഭസ്യ (ഭാദ്രപദ) മാസത്തിലെ ശുക്ല അഷ്ടമിയിൽ രാധാ-വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; മുൻപുപറഞ്ഞപോലെ കലശത്തിന്മേൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ച സ്വർണ്ണമയിയായ രാധികയെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• शुक्ल-अष्टम्याम्: on the bright eighth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘शुक्ला अष्टमी’ (on the bright eighth lunar day)

• नभस्यस्य: of Nabhasya (month)
• नभस्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; मास-नाम (month name)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• राधा-व्रतम्: Rādhā-vow
• राधा-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘राधायाः व्रतम्’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यक्रियावाचक (adverb: as before)

• राधिकाम्: Rādhikā (image)
• राधिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हैमीम्: golden
• हैमीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कलश-स्थाम्: situated in a pot
• कलश-स्थाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलश (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्था)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘कलशे स्थिता’ (placed in a pot)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship well
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching the observance as part of vrata-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rādhā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rādhā (Rādhikā)
• Kalaśa

FAQs

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

It specifies the sacred timing (śuklāṣṭamī in Nabhasya/Bhādrapada) and the proper ritual focus—worship of Rādhikā—showing that devotion is strengthened when performed with correct vrata-kāla (vow timing) and prescribed pūjā-vidhi.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined observance (vrata) and heartfelt worship (pūjā) of Rādhikā, emphasizing embodied devotion—offering reverence through a consecrated form and a sanctified ritual setting (kalaśa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical/ritual timing based on tithi (Aṣṭamī in the śukla pakṣa) and month designation (Nabhasya), reflecting applied jyotiṣa-based vrata scheduling and standard pūjā procedure (kalaśa placement and worship).