Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

समाप्तिनियमः पश्चाद्भुञ्जीतेष्टैः समन्वितः । एतद्व्रतं महालक्ष्म्याः कृत्वा विप्र विधानतः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

samāptiniyamaḥ paścādbhuñjīteṣṭaiḥ samanvitaḥ | etadvrataṃ mahālakṣmyāḥ kṛtvā vipra vidhānataḥ || 73 ||

Translation

സമാപ്തിനിയമങ്ങൾ പൂർത്തിയാക്കി ശേഷം ഇഷ്ടമായ (അനുമതിച്ച) ആഹാരം ഭുജിക്കണം. ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, വിധിപ്രകാരം മഹാലക്ഷ്മീവ്രതം ചെയ്താൽ ഫലം ലഭിക്കും.

Word by Word

• समाप्ति-नियमः: the rule at the conclusion
• समाप्ति-नियमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (समाप्तेः नियमः)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इष्टैः: with desired (foods/things)
• इष्टैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—इष्/इच्छ् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• समन्वितः: endowed/associated (with)
• समन्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—सम्+अन्वि धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘नियमः’)

• एतत्-व्रतम्: this vow
• एतत्-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एतत् एव व्रतम्)

• महा-लक्ष्म्याः: of Mahālakṣmī
• महा-लक्ष्म्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती लक्ष्मीः)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार/According to procedure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘विधानतः’ = विधानेन/विधानानुसारम् (according to rule)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahālakṣmī-vrata (Ramā-vrata context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Mahalakshmi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vrata is perfected by proper completion (samāpti-niyama); only after the vow is ritually concluded should one take food, showing discipline and reverence for Mahālakṣmī.

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

Bhakti is expressed as careful, loving observance—performing Mahālakṣmī’s vow exactly as enjoined and ending it respectfully before enjoying food, treating worship as the priority.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse points to vidhāna (injunctions) and samāpti (concluding rites), indicating that correct sequencing—completion first, then eating—is essential in vrata practice.