Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोऽस्तु ते । इति संप्रार्थ्य देवेशं सूर्ये चास्तमुपागते ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

divākara namastubhyaṃ prabhākara namo'stu te | iti saṃprārthya deveśaṃ sūrye cāstamupāgate || 16 ||

Translation

Ôi Đấng tạo nên ban ngày (Mặt Trời), con kính đảnh lễ Ngài; ôi Đấng ban ánh quang, con xin cúi đầu tôn kính. Sau khi chí thành cầu khẩn Đấng Chúa tể của chư thiên, khi mặt trời dần ngả về hoàng hôn, nghi lễ (tụng niệm) được viên mãn.

Word by Word

• दिवाकर: O Sun (day-maker)
• दिवाकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—दिवा+कर (तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उपपद) — ‘नमः’ (salutation)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया? (न) — चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी, Dative), एकवचन

• प्रभाकर: O light-maker (Sun)
• प्रभाकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—प्रभा+कर (तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/विधिलिङ्-आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4, Dative) एकवचन (एतत् प्रयोगे ‘ते’ = to you)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• संप्रार्थ्य: having prayed
• संप्रार्थ्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having prayed/entreated’

• देवेशम्: the Lord of gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—देव+ईश (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• सूर्ये: when the sun
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अस्तम्: to setting
• अस्तम्: Gati/Upapada (गति/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial) — ‘to setting/down’ (with उपागते)

• उपागते: having set/when (it) has gone to setting
• उपागते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle) used adjectivally; पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘having gone/arrived’ (locative absolute with सूर्ये)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Anukramanika-style summary section; prayer formula quoted)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Divakara/Prabhakara)
• Devesha (Lord of the gods)

FAQs

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

It functions as a concise Surya-stuti: honoring the Sun as the visible source of day and radiance, and marking the completion of prayer as sunset arrives—linking devotion with daily cosmic rhythm.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through direct namaskara (salutation) and heartfelt supplication (saṃprārthya), showing that devotion can be practiced as simple, sincere praise aligned with daily duties.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-based timing and nitya-karma discipline: prayer is framed around the sun’s movement (sunset), a key marker for Sandhya-related observances and ritual scheduling.