Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

कुशाः परिसमूहाय व्यस्तशाखाः प्रकीर्तिताः । न्यूनाधिका निष्फलाय कर्मणोऽभिमतस्य च ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

kuśāḥ parisamūhāya vyastaśākhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ | nyūnādhikā niṣphalāya karmaṇo'bhimatasya ca || 12 ||

Translation

Kuśa-Gras soll, wie gelehrt, zu einem festen Bündel gesammelt werden, wobei die Spitzen getrennt bleiben. Nimmt man zu wenig oder zu viel, wird das beabsichtigte Ritual fruchtlos.

Word by Word

• कुशाः: kuśa grasses
• कुशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• परिसमूहाय: for gathering/collecting together
• परिसमूहाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि-समूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the purpose)

• व्यस्तशाखाः: having spread-out branches/tips
• व्यस्तशाखाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यस्त-शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; व्यस्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘spread/arranged’) + शाखा; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कुशाः इति विशेषण

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/are stated
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘are declared’ (कर्मणि)

• न्यूनाधिकाः: deficient or excessive
• न्यूनाधिकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यून-अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (न्यून + अधिक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कुशाः इति विशेषण

• निष्फलाय: for fruitlessness/ineffectiveness
• निष्फलाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (result)

• कर्मणः: of the rite/action
• कर्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अभिमतस्य: intended/approved
• अभिमतस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘approved/desired’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मणः इति विशेषण

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Kusha (ritual grass)

FAQs

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

It stresses that even small details in Vedic ritual—like arranging and measuring kuśa—affect the spiritual efficacy (phala) of karma; negligence turns an intended sacred act into a barren one.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts mere intention with disciplined execution: devotion is strengthened by reverent precision and attentiveness in worship-rites, not by casual or careless performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta procedural discipline is implied—correct preparation, arrangement, and measurement of ritual implements (like kuśa) to preserve the rite’s validity and result.