Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

प्रातः स्नात्वा विधानेन नारी शुक्लाम्बरावृता । शुक्लमाल्ययधरा वापि नद्याः संगमवालुकाम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

prātaḥ snātvā vidhānena nārī śuklāmbarāvṛtā | śuklamālyayadharā vāpi nadyāḥ saṃgamavālukām || 9 ||

Translation

Pada waktu pagi, setelah mandi menurut tata cara yang ditetapkan, seorang wanita—berpakaian putih dan memakai kalungan bunga putih—hendaklah pergi ke tebing berpasir di pertemuan sungai.

Word by Word

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: स्ना (having bathed)

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शुक्ल-अम्बर-आवृता: clad in white garments
• शुक्ल-अम्बर-आवृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (शुक्लेन अम्बरेण आवृता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शुक्ल-माल्य-धरा: wearing a white garland
• शुक्ल-माल्य-धरा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (शुक्लं माल्यं धारयति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ निपात (also/even)

• नद्याः: of a river
• नद्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• संगम-वालुकाम्: the sand at the confluence
• संगम-वालुकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक) + वालुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (संगमे वालुका); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instruction within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Lalitā-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nadi (river)
• Sangama (confluence)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and sattva: bathing at dawn, wearing white, and approaching a river confluence (saṅgama) as a tirtha-setting for meritorious observance.

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

By prescribing external purity and a sacred place (saṅgama), it prepares the devotee for focused worship and vow-performance—supporting bhakti through disciplined ritual readiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: timing (morning), rules (vidhi), dress-code (white), and location (tirtha at confluence) form a practical blueprint for correct observance.