Shloka 47

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

स कथं देवपत्नीगः श्मशानाशुभचेष्टितः । तस्माद्द्विज सदाचारो निषेव्यो विधिना विधिः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

sa kathaṃ devapatnīgaḥ śmaśānāśubhaceṣṭitaḥ | tasmāddvija sadācāro niṣevyo vidhinā vidhiḥ || 47 ||

Translation

فكيف لمن يخالط زوجاتِ الآلهة أن يمارس أفعالًا مشؤومة في موضع الحرق؟ لذلك، يا ثنائيَّ الولادة، يجب اتباع السَّداتشارا (حُسن السلوك) وأداءُ الطقوس المقرَّرة وفق القاعدة الواجبة.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; interrogative adverb

• देवपत्नी-गः: one who went to the wives of the gods
• देवपत्नी-गः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवपत्नी + ग (गम्-धातु, ड-प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समास: देवपत्न्याः गः/गामी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्मशान-अशुभ-चेष्टितः: one whose conduct is impure in the cremation-ground
• श्मशान-अशुभ-चेष्टितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्मशान + अशुभ + चेष्टित (चेष्ट्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समास: श्मशाने अशुभं चेष्टितं यस्य/अशुभचेष्टितः (तत्पुरुष; अर्थतः 'cemetery-impure-behavior')

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative = 'therefore/from that'

• द्विज: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सदाचारः: good conduct
• सदाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समास: सत् + आचार (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

• निषेव्यः: to be practiced; to be followed
• निषेव्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-सेव् (सेव्-धातु, यत्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त = 'to be practiced/served'

• विधिना: by rule; according to injunction
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental

• विधिः: the rule; injunction
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context; traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual life must be grounded in sadācāra (right conduct) and regulated vidhi (scriptural procedure), warning against adopting impure, inauspicious practices that contradict dharma.

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

By insisting on disciplined, rule-based practice, it supports bhakti as a pure and sattvic path—devotion is strengthened when one avoids adharmic environments and follows prescribed dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-vidhi—performing rites exactly “according to rule” (vidhinā), which is a core application of Vedic ritual science.