Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रपाठजीवी च तथा च शवदाहकः । कुवादी परिर्वत्ता च तथा देवलकः खलः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

nakṣatrapāṭhajīvī ca tathā ca śavadāhakaḥ | kuvādī parirvattā ca tathā devalakaḥ khalaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

مَن يعتاش بتلاوة قراءات النكشترة (النجوم)، ومَن يحرق الجثث، والمجادل المنحرف، والمتقلّب الذي يبدّل ولاءه، وكذلك الديفالاكا الذي يخدم الآلهة لأجل الأجرة—فمثل هذا رجلٌ خبيث.

Word by Word

• nakṣatra-pāṭha-jīvī: one who lives by reciting astrology (nakṣatra-reading)
• nakṣatra-pāṭha-jīvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + jīvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nakṣatra-pāṭhasya jīvī = one who lives by reciting/reading astrology)

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

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

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

• śava-dāhakaḥ: corpse-burner
• śava-dāhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक) + dāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śavasya dāhakaḥ)

• ku-vādī: one who speaks wrongly; a slanderer
• ku-vādī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ku- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (ku-vādī = bad speaker/one who speaks wrongly)

• parirvattā: a turncoat; one who changes sides
• parirvattā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parivartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपम्—परिवर्तिन्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन (परिवर्त्ता/परिर्वत्ता)

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

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

• devalakaḥ: temple-servant; one who lives by temple service
• devalakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devalaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• khalaḥ: a wicked person
• khalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It warns that dharma is not only about rites but also about livelihood and character; professions and habits that foster impurity, deception, or harmful speech are marked as spiritually degrading.

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

Bhakti is supported by śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct); the verse cautions that mercenary or harmful ways of living and quarrelsome disputation obstruct a sattvic mind needed for sincere devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It touches Jyotiṣa (a Vedāṅga) indirectly by criticizing living off nakṣatra-recitation as a trade, implying that sacred sciences should be practiced with integrity rather than as exploitative fortune-telling.