Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अशक्तश्चैकभक्तं वै मध्याह्नोत्सवतः परम् । विप्रान्संभोज्य मिष्टान्नै रामप्रीति सुमाचरेत् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

aśaktaścaikabhaktaṃ vai madhyāhnotsavataḥ param | viprānsaṃbhojya miṣṭānnai rāmaprīti sumācaret || 3 ||

Translation

ଯେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରିବାକୁ ଅଶକ୍ତ, ସେ ମଧ୍ୟାହ୍ନୋତ୍ସବ ପରେ ଏକଭକ୍ତ-ବ୍ରତ ଧାରଣ କରୁ। ବିପ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ମିଷ୍ଟାନ୍ନରେ ସମ୍ମାନସହ ଭୋଜନ କରାଇ ଶ୍ରୀରାମପ୍ରୀତି ପାଇଁ ଭଲଭାବେ ଆଚରଣ କରୁ।

Word by Word

• अशक्तः: unable, incapable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—कर्ता-सम्बन्धि (qualifying the doer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकभक्तम्: single meal (one-time eating)
• एकभक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (एकस्य भक्तम्/एकभक्तम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मध्याह्नोत्सवतः: than the midday festival
• मध्याह्नोत्सवतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मध्याह्ने उत्सवः)

• परम्: higher, better
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—एकभक्तम् इत्यस्य (qualifies ‘single meal’ as ‘higher/better’)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सम्भोज्य: having fed (them)
• सम्भोज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भोज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: भोज् (भोजने) उपसर्ग: सम्; ‘having fed/after feeding’

• मिष्टान्नैः: with sweet foods
• मिष्टान्नैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (मिष्टं च तत् अन्नम्)

• रामप्रीतिम्: Rama’s pleasure
• रामप्रीतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य प्रीतिः)

• सु: well, properly
• सु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: उपसर्गवत् गुणवाचक अव्यय (intensifier ‘well’)—माचरेत् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातु: चर् (चर गतौ/आचरणे), उपसर्ग: आ

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrī-Rāmanavamī-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vipra (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere devotion can be maintained even with a simplified observance: if one cannot do everything, one may keep ekabhakta and offer charitable hospitality to brāhmaṇas, dedicating the act to Rāma’s pleasure.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through intention and dedication (rāma-prīti): regulated living (one meal) and service (feeding others) become devotional acts when performed as worship rather than mere social duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/prayoga (ritual procedure): timing after midday rites, a specific dietary rule (ekabhakta), and the prescribed act of honoring brāhmaṇas with suitable offerings such as miṣṭānna.