Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

दत्वार्घ्यं बंधनं द्रव्यैः श्रीखंडाद्यैर्विधानतः । चंद्रमण्डलसंस्थायै महालक्ष्यै प्रदापयेत् ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

datvārghyaṃ baṃdhanaṃ dravyaiḥ śrīkhaṃḍādyairvidhānataḥ | caṃdramaṇḍalasaṃsthāyai mahālakṣyai pradāpayet || 62 ||

Translation

அர்க்யம் அளித்து, ஸ்ரீகண்டம் முதலிய திரவியங்களால் விதிப்படி பந்தனம் (கட்டுதல்/அர்ப்பணம்) செய்து, சந்திரமண்டலத்தில் நிலைபெற்ற மகாலக்ஷ்மிக்கு அதைச் சமர்ப்பிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having given’

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya offering (water/oblation)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बंधनम्: a binding/tying (ritual fastening)
• बंधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बंधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रव्यैः: with substances/materials
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• श्रीखण्ड-आद्यैः: with sandalwood and the like
• श्रीखण्ड-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘श्रीखण्डः आदिः येषां तैः’ (sandalwood etc.)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘according to rule’

• चन्द्र-मण्डल-संस्थायै: to (her) abiding in the moon-disc
• चन्द्र-मण्डल-संस्थायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘चन्द्रमण्डले संस्थायै’ (to her who is situated in the lunar orb)

• महा-लक्ष्म्यै: to Mahālakṣmī
• महा-लक्ष्म्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महती लक्ष्मीः’

• प्रदापयेत्: should offer/give
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) → प्रदापय् (णिजन्त-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; causative ‘should cause to be given/should offer’

Speaker

Narada (as teacher, within the Narada Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahalakshmi
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is expressed through precise, reverent ritual acts—offering arghya and prescribed substances—directed to Mahālakṣmī envisioned in the candra-maṇḍala, highlighting purity, order (vidhi), and focused contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is practical and embodied: the devotee honors the deity with respectful offerings and a regulated procedure, using sacred materials (like sandalwood) and a devotional visualization (Lakṣmī in the lunar disc) to steady the mind and deepen reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: the verse stresses vidhānataḥ—performing the rite according to injunctions—along with the ritual use of specific dravyas (materials) and a mandala-based deity placement used in formal worship.