Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

अथ ज्येष्ठस्य पूर्णायां वटसावित्रिकं व्रतम् । सोपवासा वटं सिंचेत्सलिलैरमृतोपमैः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

atha jyeṣṭhasya pūrṇāyāṃ vaṭasāvitrikaṃ vratam | sopavāsā vaṭaṃ siṃcetsalilairamṛtopamaiḥ || 9 ||

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ജ്യേഷ്ഠപൗർണ്ണമിയിൽ വട-സാവിത്രി വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. ഉപവാസത്തോടെ വടവൃക്ഷത്തെ അമൃതസമമായ ജലത്തോടെ നനയ്ക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequence marker: then/now)

• ज्येष्ठस्य: of Jyeṣṭha (month)
• ज्येष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); मासनाम (name of month)

• पूर्णायाम्: on the full-moon (day)
• पूर्णायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘पूर्णिमा’ (full-moon day) understood

• वट-सावित्रिकम्: pertaining to the banyan and Sāvitrī (rite)
• वट-सावित्रिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक) + सावित्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-उपवासाः: (women) with fasting; fasting (participants)
• स-उपवासाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘स-’ = ‘सहित’ (with); कर्तृपद (doers, women implied by context)

• वटम्: the banyan tree
• वटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिञ्चेत्: should sprinkle/water
• सिञ्चेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• सलिलैः: with waters
• सलिलैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अमृत-उपमैः: nectar-like
• अमृत-उपमैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying सलिलैः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the vrata-vidhi in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata (vaṭasāvitrikaṃ vratam)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Savitri (implied by Vaṭa-Sāvitrī)
• Vaṭa (Banyan tree)

FAQs

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

It prescribes the timing and core act of the Vaṭa-Sāvitrī observance—fasting on Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā and honoring the banyan—framing the rite as a dharmic discipline that cultivates purity, restraint, and sacred remembrance.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through simple, embodied devotion—upavāsa (self-restraint) and seva-like worship of the sacred vaṭa—treating the offering of water as “nectar-like,” i.e., reverential and sanctified.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual calendrics (Jyotiṣa/auspicious timing): the observance is fixed specifically on Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā, showing how vrata-vidhi depends on correct lunar-date determination.