Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कमलव्रतमप्यत्र प्रोक्तं तद्विधिरुच्यते । तिलमात्रं तु सौवर्णं विधाय कमलं शुभम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

kamalavratamapyatra proktaṃ tadvidhirucyate | tilamātraṃ tu sauvarṇaṃ vidhāya kamalaṃ śubham || 14 ||

Translation

Aqui também foi ensinado o Kamala-vrata (Voto do Lótus); agora se descreve o seu procedimento. Deve-se confeccionar um lótus auspicioso de ouro, do tamanho de um grão de sésamo.

Word by Word

• kamala-vratam: the lotus-vow
• kamala-vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; additive particle (अपि)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-adverb (अत्र)

• proktam: has been stated
• proktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) + pra + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kamalavratam-viśeṣaṇa

• tat: its/that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (vidhi), Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative

• vidhiḥ: procedure/rite
• vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ucyate: is described
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; karmaṇi (passive)

• tila-mātram: a sesame-seed measure (very small amount)
• tila-mātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; pramāṇa (measure)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• sauvarṇam: made of gold
• sauvarṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kamalam-viśeṣaṇa

• vidhāya: having fashioned/made
• vidhāya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा) + vi + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• kamalam: a lotus
• kamalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śubham: auspicious/beautiful
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kamalam-viśeṣaṇa

Speaker

Narada (narrating/instructing within the vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kamala-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It frames the Kamala-vrata as a disciplined act of dharma where devotion is expressed through a precise, symbolic offering—an auspicious lotus—indicating purity, reverence, and intentionality in worship.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and embodied: the devotee prepares a sacred emblem (the lotus) with care and purity, turning devotion into a concrete ritual act aligned with vrata-vidhi.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision is emphasized through measurement (tila-mātra) and prescribed materials (gold), reflecting the procedural discipline typical of Kalpa-style ritual instruction.