Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भोजयित्वा स्वयं चाद्यात्तदन्नं द्विजशेषितम् । कृतं ह्येतद्व्रतं विप्र सुभाष्यं श्रद्धयान्वितः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

bhojayitvā svayaṃ cādyāttadannaṃ dvijaśeṣitam | kṛtaṃ hyetadvrataṃ vipra subhāṣyaṃ śraddhayānvitaḥ || 44 ||

Translation

เมื่อเลี้ยงทวิชก่อนแล้ว จึงค่อยรับประทานเองซึ่งอาหารที่เหลือจากทวิช โอ้วิประ วรตนี้ชื่อว่าสำเร็จแท้เมื่อประกอบด้วยศรัทธาและวาจามงคล (บทสวดอันถูกต้อง)

Word by Word

• भोजयित्वा: having fed
• भोजयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज्/भोजय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: भोजय् (causative of भुज्: to feed)

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), स्वतः (oneself)

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

• अद्यात्: should eat
• अद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: अद् (to eat)

• तत्-अन्नम्: that food
• तत्-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य अन्नम् (that food)

• द्विज-शेषितम्: left by the brāhmaṇas
• द्विज-शेषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + शेषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: द्विजैः शेषितम् (left over by brāhmaṇas)

• कृतम्: performed
• कृतम्: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थे: सम्पन्नम् (done/performed)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Vākyālaṅkāra (वाक्यालङ्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• एतत्-व्रतम्: this vow
• एतत्-व्रतम्: Karma/Predicative (सन्दर्भानुसार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: एतत् व्रतम् (this vow)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सु-भाष्यम्: well-spoken (teaching)
• सु-भाष्यम्: Predicative/Viśeṣaṇa (विधेय/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भाष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सु भाष्यम् (well-spoken statement/teaching)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थे: युक्तः (endowed)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: pañcagavya-vrata (continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin (Dvija)
• Vipra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vow (vrata) becomes spiritually effective when it is grounded in humility and reverence—serving the learned (dvijas) first, then accepting what remains, and performing the act with sincere śraddhā and proper utterance.

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

By highlighting service, self-restraint, and faith, the verse frames ritual observance as an attitude of devotion—placing dharmic service before personal enjoyment and completing the act with reverent intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of “su-bhāṣya” points to correct and auspicious recitation and speech discipline—aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (proper linguistic form) as practical supports for ritual performance.