Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

आवी वैश्यस्य विज्ञेया श्रूयतामजिने तथा । विप्रस्य चोक्तमैणेयं रौरवं क्षत्रियस्य तु ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

āvī vaiśyasya vijñeyā śrūyatāmajine tathā | viprasya coktamaiṇeyaṃ rauravaṃ kṣatriyasya tu || 17 ||

Translation

اعلموا أن الجلدَ اللائق بالفيشيا (Vaiśya) هو جلدُ الغنم؛ واصغوا أيضاً إلى شأن جلود الأيائل: فللبراهمن يُقال إنه جلدُ الظبي (antelope)، وأما للكشترية فجلدُ رَوْرَفَة (raurava)، أي جلدُ الأيل المُرقَّط.

Word by Word

• आवी: āvī (girdle/strap)
• आवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (a kind of girdle/strap; here as prescribed item)

• वैश्यस्य: of a Vaiśya
• वैश्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विज्ञेया: should be understood (as prescribed)
• विज्ञेया: विधेय (Predicate/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘should be known/understood’

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; passive/benedictive sense: ‘let it be heard’

• अजिने: in the (deer) skin (garment)
• अजिने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘in/with the skin (garment)’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकाराव्यय (thus/also)

• विप्रस्य: of a Brahmin
• विप्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicative ‘is said’

• ऐणेयम्: antelope/deer (skin)
• ऐणेयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐणेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextually with implied ‘अजिनम्’), एकवचन; adjective ‘made of antelope/deer’

• रौरवम्: ruru-deer (skin)
• रौरवम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (with implied ‘अजिनम्’), एकवचन; adjective ‘of ruru-deer’

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a Kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It links outer discipline to inner dharma: the prescribed ajina (skin garment) symbolizes restraint, simplicity, and adherence to one’s ordained duties, supporting steadiness in japa, study, and vrata.

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

While not directly describing bhakti, it supports bhakti-sādhana by emphasizing regulated living and ritual propriety—creating a sattvic lifestyle conducive to remembrance of Hari and disciplined worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style injunctions—practical rules about permitted ritual/ascetic attire used in vows, study, and sacramental observances.