Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मंत्रैरेतैर्महालक्ष्मीं प्रार्थ्य श्रोत्रिययोषितः । सम्यक्संपूज्य ताः सम्यग्गंधयावककज्जलैः ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtrairetairmahālakṣmīṃ prārthya śrotriyayoṣitaḥ | samyaksaṃpūjya tāḥ samyaggaṃdhayāvakakajjalaiḥ || 66 ||

Translation

ഈ മന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ മഹാലക്ഷ്മിയെ പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ച ശേഷം, ശ്രോത്രിയ ബ്രാഹ്മണഗൃഹങ്ങളിലെ സ്ത്രീകളെ യഥാവിധി ആദരപൂർവ്വം പൂജിക്കുകയും, സുഗന്ധം, യാവകലെപം, കാജലം എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് യോജ്യമായി അലങ്കരിക്കുകയും വേണം।

Word by Word

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• etaiḥ: with these
• etaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; demonstrative adjective qualifying 'mantraiḥ'

• mahā-lakṣmīm: Mahālakṣmī
• mahā-lakṣmīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prārthya: having prayed to
• prārthya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; 'having prayed'

• śrotriya-yoṣitaḥ: learned women (of Vedic tradition)
• śrotriya-yoṣitaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya-yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'learned (Vedic) women'

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• saṃpūjya: having worshipped
• saṃpūjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pūj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; 'having worshipped'

• tāḥ: them
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• gandha-yāvaka-kajjalaiḥ: with perfumes, red dye, and collyrium
• gandha-yāvaka-kajjalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha-yāvaka-kajjala (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; dvandva of gandha 'fragrance/perfume', yāvaka 'red dye/alta', kajjala 'collyrium/soot'

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara tradition context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahālakṣmī
• Śrotriya (Veda-learned Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

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

It links Mahālakṣmī-invocation with dharmic hospitality and reverence—showing that prosperity is approached through mantra, purity of conduct, and honoring the Veda-rooted household as a living seat of auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as upacāra (reverent service): after praying to the Goddess, the devotee concretely serves and honors worthy recipients, making devotion visible through respectful worship and care.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice) is implied: mantra-prayoga followed by proper pūjā and appropriate upacāras (fragrance, unguents, collyrium), emphasizing correct sequencing and decorum in worship.