Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33
Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala
चतुरस्त्रं ब्राह्मणस्य त्रिकोणं क्षत्रियस्य वै । वैश्यस्य वर्तुलं ज्ञेयं शूद्रस्याभ्याभ्युक्षणं भवेत् ॥ ३३ ॥
caturastraṃ brāhmaṇasya trikoṇaṃ kṣatriyasya vai | vaiśyasya vartulaṃ jñeyaṃ śūdrasyābhyābhyukṣaṇaṃ bhavet || 33 ||
ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ মণ্ডল চতুৰস্ৰ, ক্ষত্ৰিয়ৰ ত্ৰিকোণ; বৈশ্যৰ বৃত্তাকাৰ বুলি জানিব। শূদ্ৰৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত জল ছিটাই শুদ্ধি (অভ্যাভ্যুক্ষণ) দ্বাৰাই বিধি সম্পন্ন হয়।
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It presents a dharmic principle of “adhikāra-bheda” (differentiated eligibility): ritual forms and methods are adapted to the practitioner’s social-ritual station, aiming at orderly, effective performance rather than a single uniform procedure for all.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined observance: when rites are performed in a regulated, appropriate manner (with purity and correct procedure), they become supportive auxiliaries (aṅgas) that steady the mind for devotion and remembrance of the Divine.
It reflects ritual-technical knowledge akin to Vedāṅga applications—especially kalpa-style procedural classification and basic geometric layout of maṇḍalas/vedis, along with the purificatory practice of abhyukṣaṇa (sprinkling) used in rites.