Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

शौचे यत्नः सदा कार्यः शौचमूलो द्विजः स्मृतः । शौचाचारविहीनस्य समस्तं कर्म निष्फलम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

śauce yatnaḥ sadā kāryaḥ śaucamūlo dvijaḥ smṛtaḥ | śaucācāravihīnasya samastaṃ karma niṣphalam || 8 ||

Translation

ينبغي للمرء أن يجتهد دائمًا في «شَوْچا» أي الطهارة؛ ويُقال إنَّ الدِّفِيجا (المولود مرتين) متجذِّر في الطهارة. أمّا من خلا من سلوك النظافة، فإنّ جميع أعماله تصير بلا ثمرة.

Word by Word

• śauce: in purity/cleanliness
• śauce: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yatnaḥ: effort
• yatnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kāryaḥ: to be done/should be made
• kāryaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ya (ण्‍यत्) → kārya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (ण्‍यत्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with yatnaḥ

• śauca-mūlaḥ: having purity as the root
• śauca-mūlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śaucaṃ mūlam asya’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with dvijaḥ

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• smṛtaḥ: is declared/considered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + ta (क्त) → smṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively: ‘is said/considered’

• śauca-ācāra-vihīnasya: of one devoid of pure conduct
• śauca-ācāra-vihīnasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śaucācāreṇa vihīnaḥ’; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; Masculine/Neuter dependent on implied possessor (e.g., ‘tasya’)

• samastam: entire/whole
• samastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (or Accusative) Singular; agrees with karma

• karma: ritual act/deed
• karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of karma

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context within Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

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

It establishes śauca (purity) as the root of dharmic life: without inner/outer cleanliness and disciplined conduct, even well-performed deeds lose their spiritual efficacy.

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

Bhakti is supported by śuddhi (purification): cleanliness of body, mind, and habits makes worship, japa, and offerings worthy and receptive, preventing devotion from becoming merely external.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smārta-ācāra: purity rules (snāna, ācamana, cleanliness of place and utensils) are prerequisites for yajña, pūjā, and other karmas.