Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतं पश्चाद्विद्या मंत्रेण मंत्रवित् । दद्यान्निशाकरायार्ध्यं सर्वाभीष्टार्थसिद्धये ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśataṃ paścādvidyā maṃtreṇa maṃtravit | dadyānniśākarāyārdhyaṃ sarvābhīṣṭārthasiddhaye || 68 ||

Translation

ఆ తరువాత మంత్రవేత్త విద్యా-మంత్రంతో అష్టోత్తరశత జపం చేసి, సమస్త అభీష్టార్థసిద్ధి కోసం నిశాకరుడు (చంద్రదేవుడు)కు అర్ఘ్యాన్ని సమర్పించాలి।

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: one hundred and eight (times)
• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टोत्तर-शत (प्रातिपदिक; अष्ट + उत्तर + शत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘अष्टोत्तरशत’ = 108 (one hundred and eight)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• विद्या: with the (sacred) vidyā
• विद्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental: ‘by/with the vidyā’)

• मन्त्रेण: by the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental)

• मन्त्रवित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रविद्’ = mantra-knower

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• निशाकराय: to the Moon (Niśākara)
• निशाकराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (dative)

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

• सर्वाभीष्टार्थसिद्धये: for the accomplishment of all desired aims
• सर्वाभीष्टार्थसिद्धये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-अभीष्ट-अर्थ-सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक (purpose)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Niśākara (Chandra/Moon)

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise mantra-vidhi: completing 108 recitations and then offering arghya to Chandra, indicating that disciplined japa followed by a reverential offering channels the rite toward siddhi (successful fruition) of intended goals.

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

Though framed as technical ritual, it expresses bhakti through upacāra (devotional service): the practitioner honors a divine cosmic power (Chandra) with mantra and arghya, combining inner remembrance (japa) with outward worship (offering).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga and ritual counting (aṣṭottaraśata = 108), along with the arghya-offering procedure—elements tied to applied Vedic discipline (kalpa-style ritual method) and mantra-śāstra practice.