Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

पूर्वा गृहस्थैः सा कार्य्या ह्युत्तरा यतिभिस्तथा । गृहस्थाः सिद्धिमिच्छंति यतो मोक्षं यतीश्वराः ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvā gṛhasthaiḥ sā kāryyā hyuttarā yatibhistathā | gṛhasthāḥ siddhimicchaṃti yato mokṣaṃ yatīśvarāḥ || 43 ||

Translation

أما الطريقة الأولى فليعمل بها أهلُ البيوت (الغِرهاسثا)، وأما الثانية فليعمل بها اليَتي، أهلُ الزهد والترك. فإن أهلَ الدنيا يطلبون الظفرَ والصلاحَ في العالم، بينما الرهبانُ السادة يبتغون موكشا (mokṣa) أي التحرر.

Word by Word

• पूर्वा: the earlier (one)
• पूर्वा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (एकादशी-प्रकारस्य)

• गृहस्थैः: by householders
• गृहस्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः (by/for householders)

• सा: that (one)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कार्य्या: should be done/observed
• कार्य्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → कार्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—भाव्य/विधेयार्थकः (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be done/should be observed’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• उत्तरा: the later (one)
• उत्तरा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• यतिभिः: by ascetics
• यतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• गृहस्थाः: householders
• गृहस्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• सिद्धिम्: success/accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal adverb: ‘because/wherefrom’)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• यति-ईश्वराः: lords among ascetics (great ascetics)
• यति-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यतीनां ईश्वराः) ; कर्ता

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on ashrama-dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It distinguishes spiritual disciplines by life-stage: householders prioritize dharmic prosperity and steady attainment, while renunciants prioritize the single aim of moksha.

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

By clarifying goals: bhakti in the householder life is often integrated with duties and righteous prosperity, while bhakti for renunciants is oriented toward exclusive liberation-focused surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily dharma-shastric (ashrama classification) rather than a Vedanga topic; it practically teaches role-based application of discipline according to one’s ashrama.