Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

इत्युच्चार्य ततो बद्धा डोरक दक्षिणे करे । षोडशग्रंथिसहितं गुणैः षोडशभिर्युतम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

ityuccārya tato baddhā ḍoraka dakṣiṇe kare | ṣoḍaśagraṃthisahitaṃ guṇaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiryutam || 56 ||

Translation

เมื่อกล่าวมนต์ดังนี้แล้ว จึงผูกด้ายคุ้มครอง (โดรกะ) ที่มือขวา—มีปมสิบหกปม และประกอบด้วยคุณมงคลสิบหกประการ।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उच्चार्य: having recited
• उच्चार्य: पूर्वकाल (Purvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + √चर् (धातु) (उच्चारयति causative base)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): 'having uttered/recited'

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'then/thereafter'

• बद्धा: (it) was tied
• बद्धा: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively: 'was tied'

• डोरकम्: a sacred thread (ḍoraka)
• डोरकम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डोरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'sacred thread/amulet string'

• दक्षिणे: on the right
• दक्षिणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; करे इति विशेषणम्

• करे: in/on the hand
• करे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• षोडश-ग्रन्थि-सहितम्: together with sixteen knots
• षोडश-ग्रन्थि-सहितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; डोरकम् इति विशेषणम्

• गुणैः: with threads/strands
• गुणैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• षोडशभिः: sixteen
• षोडशभिः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; गुणैः इति विशेषणम्

• युतम्: endowed/combined
• युतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP): 'endowed/connected'

Speaker

Narada (teaching the procedure within a ritual context; dialogue tradition is Narada instructing sages such as Sanatkumara and related interlocutors)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahālakṣmī-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that protection and auspiciousness are ritually invoked through mantra-utterance and then sealed by tying a consecrated cord, indicating that intention (mantra) and action (binding the ḍoraka) together complete the rite.

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

By prescribing mantra-recitation followed by a devotional act, it frames bhakti as disciplined practice—remembering the divine through mantra and expressing faith through a sanctified observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through precise injunctions—where to tie the cord (right hand) and how to structure it (sixteen knots), showing the Narada Purana’s practical ritual detailing.