Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भास्करी सप्तमी चेयं कोटिभास्वद्ग्रहोपमा । अरुणोदयवेलायामस्यां स्नानं विधीयते ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

bhāskarī saptamī ceyaṃ koṭibhāsvadgrahopamā | aruṇodayavelāyāmasyāṃ snānaṃ vidhīyate || 63 ||

Translation

此日名为“婆斯迦利七日（Bhāskarī Saptamī）”，其光辉可比千万轮灿日。于此圣日，经典规定当在阿鲁诺达亚（黎明初现之时）沐浴。

Word by Word

• भास्करी: Bhāskarī (Sun-related)
• भास्करी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• सप्तमी: Saptamī (seventh lunar day)
• सप्तमी: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• कोटिभास्वद्ग्रहोपमा: comparable to crores of radiant celestial bodies
• कोटिभास्वद्ग्रहोपमा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + भास्वत् + ग्रह + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषसमासः: ‘कोटि-भास्वद्-ग्रहैः उपमा’ = ‘comparable to crores of shining planets/stars’

• अरुणोदयवेलायाम्: at the time of dawn
• अरुणोदयवेलायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुण + उदय + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अरुणोदयस्य वेला’

• अस्याम्: on this (day)
• अस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is prescribed/ordained’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a calendrical/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Bhāskarī-saptamī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Arunodaya

FAQs

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

It elevates Bhāskarī Saptamī as an exceptionally potent solar observance and stresses purification through a dawn bath, aligning the practitioner with the sacred power of the rising Sun.

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

By prescribing a simple, time-specific act (aruṇodaya-snana) connected to Bhāskara, it frames devotion as disciplined daily/occasional practice—honoring divine luminosity through ritual purity and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedic calendrics: the importance of tithi (Saptamī) and muhurta (aruṇodaya) for performing rites, showing how timing is integral to Narada Purana ritual injunctions.