Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठशुक्लनवम्यां तु सोपवासो नरोत्तमः । उमां संपूज्य विधिवत्कुमारीर्भोजयेद्द्विजान् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhaśuklanavamyāṃ tu sopavāso narottamaḥ | umāṃ saṃpūjya vidhivatkumārīrbhojayeddvijān || 9 ||

Translation

ในวันนวมิแห่งปักษ์สว่างเดือนเชษฐะ บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐพึงถืออุโบสถ; ครั้นบูชาพระอุมาโดยถูกพิธีแล้ว พึงถวายภัตตาหารแก่กุมารีและทวิชะ (พราหมณ์)

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठ-शुक्ल-नवम्याम्: on the bright ninth of (the month) Jyeṣṭha
• ज्येष्ठ-शुक्ल-नवम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular feminine; मास- पक्ष- तिथि-निर्देशः (in the ninth tithi of the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; contrast/emphasis

• स-उपवासः: fasting
• स-उपवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; विशेषणम् (one who is fasting)

• नर-उत्तमः: the best of men
• नर-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; संबोधनार्थेऽपि प्रयुज्यते (used as epithet)

• उमाम्: Umā
• उमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; having worshipped properly

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधिवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb); 'according to rule'

• कुमारीः: maidens
• कुमारीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural feminine

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्/भोज् (धातु, णिजन्त causative of भुज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg; causative 'should feed'

• द्विजान्: Brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural masculine

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within vrata-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Umā-vrata (Jyeṣṭha-śukla Navamī observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Umā (Pārvatī)

FAQs

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

It teaches a Navamī-vrata pattern: self-restraint through fasting, devotion through worship of Umā, and merit through feeding (anna-dāna) to kumārīs and brāhmaṇas—uniting tapas, bhakti, and dāna.

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

Bhakti is expressed as vidhivat-pūjā—reverent, rule-based worship of Umā—showing devotion not only as emotion but as disciplined ritual honoring the Divine Mother.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical/ritual precision—observance tied to tithi (Navamī) and māsa/pakṣa (Jyeṣṭha, śukla)—reflecting jyotiṣa-based timing and kalpa-style procedural order (vidhivat).