Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यादिधर्मांश्च श्राद्धकल्पविधिस्ततः । ग्रहयज्ञस्ततः प्रोक्तोवैदिकस्मार्तकर्म च ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

brahmacaryādidharmāṃśca śrāddhakalpavidhistataḥ | grahayajñastataḥ proktovaidikasmārtakarma ca || 11 ||

Translation

ثم تُبيَّن الواجبات الدينية التي تبدأ بالبراهماتشاريا (انضباط الطالب في العفة)، وبعد ذلك تُذكر قواعد وإجراءات طقوس الشرادها (śrāddha). ثم يُعلَّم غراها-يَجْنَا (قربان استرضاء الكواكب)، مع الأعمال الطقسية على نهج الفيدا وعلى نهج السمارْتا معًا.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्य-आदि-धर्मान्: the duties beginning with celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्य-आदि-धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—आदि-तत्पुरुषः (brahmacarya etc. + dharmas)

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

• श्राद्ध-कल्प-विधिः: the procedure for the śrāddha-ritual rules
• श्राद्ध-कल्प-विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śrāddha-kalpa = rules/procedure of śrāddha; + vidhi)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘thereafter/from that’

• ग्रह-यज्ञः: the planetary sacrifice (graha-yajña)
• ग्रह-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (yajña relating to planets)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared/taught
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावः—‘said/declared’

• वैदिक-स्मार्त-कर्म: Vedic and Smārta rites
• वैदिक-स्मार्त-कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (vaidika + smārta) विशेषणद्वन्द्वः, ततः कर्म-शब्देन समासः

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching/reciting to the Sanatkumara brothers in an anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Grahas (planets)

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as a structured life of discipline and rite: personal conduct (brahmacarya and related duties), ancestral obligation (śrāddha), and cosmic harmony (graha-yajña), all integrated through Vedic and Smārta practice.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports devotion through purified living and correct ritual order—discipline, gratitude to ancestors, and reverent alignment with cosmic forces—creating steadiness for Vishnu-oriented worship taught elsewhere in the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) via śrāddha-kalpa-vidhi and to Jyotiṣa-oriented practice through graha-yajña, alongside the distinction between Vaidika and Smārta karmas.