Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

आचांतेषु च विप्रेषु पिंडं निर्वापयेत्ततः । स्वस्तिवा चनकं कुर्यादक्षय्योदकमेव च ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

ācāṃteṣu ca vipreṣu piṃḍaṃ nirvāpayettataḥ | svastivā canakaṃ kuryādakṣayyodakameva ca || 71 ||

Translation

ব্রাহ্মণগণ আচমন সম্পন্ন করলে পরে পিণ্ড নিবেদন করবে। তারপর স্বস্তিবাচন করাবে এবং অক্ষয়্যোদক-ক্রিয়াও সম্পাদন করবে।

Word by Word

• आचामतेषु: when (they) are performing ācamana
• आचामतेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी बहुवचनम्; ‘आचामत्’ = sipping (ritually)

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

• विप्रेषु: among the Brahmins
• विप्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• निर्वापयेत्: should offer / should place (as offering)
• निर्वापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच् (causative) भावः: ‘to cause to be placed/offered’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रम/अपादानार्थे (thereafter/from that)

• स्वस्तिवाचनकम्: the utterance of ‘svasti’ (benediction)
• स्वस्तिवाचनकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति + वाचनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्तेः वाचनकम्)

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

• नकम्: a small offering/measure (reading-dependent)
• नकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (पाठ_toggle: ‘चनकं’ इति संधि-रूपेण)

• कुर्यात्: should do / should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अक्षय्योदकम्: inexhaustible water (ritual water offering)
• अक्षय्योदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय्य + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (अक्षय्यं उदकम्)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

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

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara tradition, within ritual exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)
• Pitṛs (ancestors, implied by piṇḍa/śrāddha context)

FAQs

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

It fixes the proper sequence of a Śrāddha rite—purification (ācamana), offering the piṇḍa, invoking auspicious blessings (svasti-vācana), and sealing the act with akṣayya-udaka—so the ancestral offering becomes ritually complete and spiritually effective.

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

Though primarily ritual, it reflects bhakti through disciplined, reverent service—honoring brāhmaṇas and ancestors as a sacred duty performed with purity and auspicious invocation, aligning household action with dharma-oriented devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: the verse gives a precise order of Śrāddha components—ācamana protocol, piṇḍa-nirvāpaṇa, svasti-vācana (mantric benediction), and the akṣayya-udaka libation.