Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

जागरस्तत्र कर्तव्यो गीतवादित्रनिः स्वनैः । ततो निशीथे संप्राप्तेऽभ्युदितेऽमृतदीधितौ ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

jāgarastatra kartavyo gītavāditraniḥ svanaiḥ | tato niśīthe saṃprāpte'bhyudite'mṛtadīdhitau || 61 ||

Translation

ณ ที่นั้นพึงทำชาคร (การเฝ้าตื่น) ด้วยเสียงขับร้องและดนตรีกังวาน ครั้นถึงนิศีถะ (เที่ยงคืน) และจันทร์ผู้มีรัศมีดุจอมฤตขึ้นแล้ว พิธีย่อมดำเนินต่อไป।

Word by Word

• जागरः: vigil (wakefulness)
• जागरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण ‘there’

• कर्तव्यः: should be performed
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligation), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• गीत-वादित्र-निःस्वनैः: with sounds of singing and instruments
• गीत-वादित्र-निःस्वनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वादित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (समाहार/निर्देश) ‘गीतस्य वादित्रस्य च निःस्वनैः’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘then/thereafter’

• निशीथे: at midnight
• निशीथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशीथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संप्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• संप्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) → संप्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• अभ्युदिते: when (it) has risen
• अभ्युदिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + उद् + इ (धातु) → अभ्युदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• अमृत-दीधितौ: when the nectar-rayed (moon) is risen
• अमृत-दीधितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + दीधिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अमृतमयी दीधितिः’ (nectar-like radiance), चन्द्रस्य संकेतः

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It prescribes a devotional vigil (jāgara) supported by sacred sound—song and instruments—emphasizing wakeful remembrance and disciplined timing for worship.

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

By recommending singing and musical accompaniment during the vigil, it highlights bhakti expressed through kīrtana-like practices and continuous attentive presence through the night.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects practical kāla (time) discipline—observing a rite at niśītha (midnight) and in relation to the moon’s rise—useful for ritual scheduling aligned with traditional calendrical timing.