Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रं तु प्रकुर्वीत भुक्तोच्छिष्टः षडाचरेत् । उदक्यां सूतिकांवापि संस्पृशेदन्त्यजो यदि ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

trirātraṃ tu prakurvīta bhuktocchiṣṭaḥ ṣaḍācaret | udakyāṃ sūtikāṃvāpi saṃspṛśedantyajo yadi || 11 ||

Translation

إذا لمس الأنتياجا امرأةً حائضًا أو نفساء فعليه أن يلتزم عدم الطهارة ثلاث ليالٍ؛ أمّا إن لمس من أكل وبقي في حال الأوتشيشْتا (بقايا الطعام) فعليه ستّ ليالٍ.

Word by Word

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights (observance)
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रि + रात्र)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुक्तोच्छिष्टः: one who has eaten leftovers
• भुक्तोच्छिष्टः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्त (भुज्-धातु, क्त) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भुक्तस्य उच्छिष्टः)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Karma (कर्म; measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; (here in compound with आचरेत् as object-count)

• आचरेत्: should practice/observe
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उदक्याम्: a menstruating woman
• उदक्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सूतिकाम्: a woman in childbirth/just delivered
• सूतिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: also/even)

• संस्पृशेत्: should touch
• संस्पृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्त्यजः: an outcaste
• अन्त्यजः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in a dharma-śāstra style discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined conduct (ācāra) by prescribing specific periods of āśauca (ritual impurity) and expiation after contact-based defilement, reinforcing mindfulness and restraint in daily dharma.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life indirectly: ritual cleanliness and regulated conduct are treated as supportive disciplines that help a practitioner remain fit for worship, japa, and temple/household rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smārta-ācāra: practical rules for purity/impurity periods (āśauca) tied to touch, bodily states, and food-remnants (ucchiṣṭa).