Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

भुक्त्वेष्टानैहिकान् कामांल्लक्ष्मीलोके वसेच्चिरम् । एषाऽशोकाष्टमी चोक्ता यस्यां पूर्णं रमाव्रतम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

bhuktveṣṭānaihikān kāmāṃllakṣmīloke vasecciram | eṣā'śokāṣṭamī coktā yasyāṃ pūrṇaṃ ramāvratam || 74 ||

Translation

เมื่อเสวยสุขตามปรารถนาในโลกนี้แล้ว ย่อมพำนักยาวนานในโลกของพระลักษมี. วันนี้เรียกว่า ‘อโศการษฏมี’ วันที่วรตแห่งพระรมา (พระลักษมี) สำเร็จบริบูรณ์

Word by Word

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having enjoyed/eaten)

• इष्टान्: desired
• इष्टान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—इष्/इच्छ् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कामान्’)

• ऐहिकान्: worldly (of this life)
• ऐहिकान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कामान्’)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• लक्ष्मी-लोके: in Lakṣmī’s world
• लक्ष्मी-लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लक्ष्म्याः लोकः)

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of duration)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/एष (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अशोक-अष्टमी: the Aśokāṣṭamī (eighth day of Aśoka)
• अशोक-अष्टमी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition to ‘एषा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अशोकस्य अष्टमी)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• उक्ता: is said/called
• उक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथिता’

• यस्याम्: in which (day)
• यस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पूर्णम्: complete/fulfilled
• पूर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—पॄ धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘व्रतम्’)

• रमा-व्रतम्: Rama’s (Lakṣmī’s) vow
• रमा-व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with ‘पूर्णम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रमायाः व्रतम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata-focused narrative context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aśokāṣṭamī / Ramā-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi (Rama)

FAQs

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

It states the phala (result) of observing Aśokāṣṭamī/Ramā-vrata: fulfillment of desired aims and prolonged residence in Lakṣmī’s realm, presenting the vow as a dharmic means to prosperity and auspicious post-mortem attainment.

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

By linking a specific tithi-based observance (Aśokāṣṭamī) to Ramā (Lakṣmī), it frames devotion as disciplined worship and vow-keeping, where bhakti expressed through vrata yields both worldly well-being and higher lokas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse relies on calendrical ritual timing—Aṣṭamī tithi—connecting vrata practice to traditional jyotiṣa-style tithi observance used to determine when a vow is to be completed.