Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य द्विजदांपत्यं विसृजेल्लब्धदक्षिणम् । व्रतमेतन्नरः कृत्वा नारी वा विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya dvijadāṃpatyaṃ visṛjellabdhadakṣiṇam | vratametannaraḥ kṛtvā nārī vā vidhipūrvakam || 84 ||

Translation

ദ്വിജ ദമ്പതികളെ ഭോജനിപ്പിച്ച്, ദക്ഷിണ അർപ്പിച്ച് ആദരത്തോടെ യാത്രയാക്കണം। ഈ വ്രതം വിധിപൂർവം ചെയ്താൽ—പുരുഷനോ സ്ത്രീയോ—ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായി സമാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• संभोज्य: having fed/entertained
• संभोज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भुज् (धातु) → संभोज्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल; धातु: √भुज् (7P/भुङ्क्ते) with उपसर्ग सम्

• द्विजदाम्पत्यम्: the Brahmin couple
• द्विजदाम्पत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + दाम्पत्य (प्रातिपदिक); द्विजदाम्पत्य (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• विसृजेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसृजेत्: Vidhi (विधि) / Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लब्धदक्षिणम्: having received the honorarium (dakṣiṇā)
• लब्धदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) → लब्ध (कृदन्त, क्त) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक); लब्धदक्षिण (समास)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) द्विजदाम्पत्यम्

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण व्रतम्

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

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; धातु: √कृ (8U)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता (वैकल्पिक)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिपूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक); विधिपूर्वक (समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial), क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (concluding step of a vrata described)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vrata is not only inner resolve but also correct completion (pūrṇatā) through hospitality and dāna—feeding a worthy Brahmin couple and giving dakṣiṇā to seal the merit of the observance.

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

Even when a vow is undertaken for devotional ends, the Purana emphasizes bhakti expressed as reverent service—honoring the Lord through honoring His devotees and upholding dharmic conduct in the concluding rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse stresses vidhi-pūrvaka performance—proper sequence of feeding (bhojana), offering dakṣiṇā, and formal dismissal—core elements of vrata-vidhi in Smarta practice.