Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

महाष्टमीति च प्रोक्ता देव्याः पूजाविधानतः । वैशाखस्य सिताष्टम्यां समुपोष्यात्र वारिणा ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

mahāṣṭamīti ca proktā devyāḥ pūjāvidhānataḥ | vaiśākhasya sitāṣṭamyāṃ samupoṣyātra vāriṇā || 4 ||

Translation

Theo nghi thức thờ phụng Nữ Thần đã được quy định, pháp hành này được gọi là “Mahāṣṭamī”. Vào ngày mồng tám trăng sáng của tháng Vaiśākha, nên giữ trai giới đúng phép tại đây, chỉ dùng nước mà thôi.

Word by Word

• महा-अष्टमी: the ‘Great Eighth’ (tithi)
• महा-अष्टमी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: महती अष्टमी

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रोक्ता: is called/said
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूजा-विधानतः: according to the procedure of worship
• पूजा-विधानतः: Hetu (हेतु/reason-basis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb ‘from/according to’); तत्पुरुषः: पूजायाः विधानम्

• वैशाखस्य: of (the month) Vaiśākha
• वैशाखस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिता-अष्टम्याम्: on the bright eighth (tithi)
• सिता-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिता (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः

• समुपोष्य: having fasted
• समुपोष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + वस्/उष् (धातु: उपवस् ‘to fast’) → उपोष्य (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative-adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वारिणा: with water
• वारिणा: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic narration of vrata/puja rules; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahāṣṭamī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Vaishakha
• Ashtami
• Mahashtami

FAQs

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

It defines Mahāṣṭamī as a Goddess-centered observance and emphasizes disciplined upavāsa (fasting) as a means of ritual purity and devotional focus.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through regulated worship (pūjā-vidhi) and bodily restraint (water-only fasting), directing attention and intention toward the Devī.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It applies calendrical ritual timing—tithi observance (śukla-aṣṭamī of Vaiśākha)—which aligns with Jyotiṣa-based vrata scheduling used in Purāṇic practice.