Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य जुहुयादग्नौ बिल्वपद्मकपायसैः । तदलाभे घृतैर्विप्र गृहेभ्यः समिधस्तिलान् ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya juhuyādagnau bilvapadmakapāyasaiḥ | tadalābhe ghṛtairvipra gṛhebhyaḥ samidhastilān || 67 ||

Translation

Sau khi thọ thực đãi các Bà-la-môn được mời, nên dâng cúng vào lửa thiêng bằng payasa (cơm sữa) nấu với quả bilva và (thành phần) hoa sen. Nếu không có, hỡi Bà-la-môn, hãy dâng thay bằng bơ ghee, cùng củi tế (samidh) và mè lấy từ chính nhà mình.

Word by Word

• saṃbhojya: having fed (them)
• saṃbhojya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; 'having fed/entertained'

• juhuyāt: should offer (into fire)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• agnau: in the fire
• agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bilva-padma-ka-pāyasaiḥ: with bilva, padmaka, and pāyasa
• bilva-padma-ka-pāyasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva-padma-ka-pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; dvandva: bilva 'bael', padmaka 'padmaka-wood', pāyasa 'rice-milk pudding'

• tad-alābhe: when that is unavailable
• tad-alābhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad-alābha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in the non-availability of that'

• ghṛtaiḥ: with ghee
• ghṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• gṛhebhyaḥ: from houses
• gṛhebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural

• samidhaḥ: firewood sticks (kindling)
• samidhaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samidh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tilān: sesame seeds
• tilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, addressing 'vipra')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual purity is joined with dharma of hospitality: feeding the worthy first, then sanctifying the act through Agni-oblation, with a permitted substitute when ideal materials are unavailable.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship through offering (homa) performed with sincerity; even when special ingredients are lacking, devotion continues through acceptable substitutes like ghee, samidh, and sesame.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying the sequence (feeding then homa), the prescribed oblation substances, and the rule of substitution (anukalpa) when materials are not obtainable.