Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अस्यामेव प्रतिपदि नवरात्रं समारभेत् । पूर्वाह्णे पूजयेद्देवीं घटस्थापनपूर्वकम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

asyāmeva pratipadi navarātraṃ samārabhet | pūrvāhṇe pūjayeddevīṃ ghaṭasthāpanapūrvakam || 30 ||

Translation

就在此初一月日（pratipad），应当开启九夜圣行（Navarātra）。于上午时分，应先行安置圣瓶（ghaṭa-sthāpana），继而礼拜供奉女神。

Word by Word

• अस्याम्: on this (day)
• अस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• प्रतिपदि: on the first lunar day (pratipad)
• प्रतिपदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नव-रात्रम्: Navarātra (nine-night rite)
• नव-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (nine nights)

• समारभेत्: should begin
• समारभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आरभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पूर्वाह्णे: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घट-स्थापन-पूर्वकम्: with pot-installation as the preliminary rite
• घट-स्थापन-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थापन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘with … as a preliminary’

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue with Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Navarātra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī

FAQs

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

It establishes the correct sacred timing (Pratipadā) and the proper ritual sequence—beginning Navarātra with ghaṭa-sthāpana—so the vow is undertaken with order, purity, and intended śakti-invocation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: beginning the vrata on the prescribed day and worshipping Devī with a consecratory act (kalasha/ghaṭa), showing reverent, methodical devotion rather than casual worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/kalā (tithi-based timing: Pratipadā, pūrvāhṇa) and Kalpa (ritual procedure: ghaṭa-sthāpana as a prerequisite to pūjā).