Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मेदिनी मेदसा व्याप्ता मधुकैटभदैत्ययोः । गोमयेनोपलेप्येयं तदर्थमिति नारद ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

medinī medasā vyāptā madhukaiṭabhadaityayoḥ | gomayenopalepyeyaṃ tadarthamiti nārada || 15 ||

Translation

„Die Erde ist vom Fett der Asuras Madhu und Kaiṭabha durchdrungen. Darum soll man sie zur Reinigung und zum Schutz eben zu diesem Zweck mit Kuhdung bestreichen“, sprach Nārada.

Word by Word

• मेदिनी: the earth
• मेदिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मेदसा: with fat
• मेदसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• व्याप्ता: pervaded/covered
• व्याप्ता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः; ‘मेदिनी’ विशेषणम्

• मधु: Madhu (name)
• मधु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• कैटभ: Kaiṭabha (name)
• कैटभ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• दैत्ययोः: of the two demons
• दैत्ययोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘मधु-कैटभ’ इत्ययोः दैत्ययोः

• गोमयेन: with cow-dung
• गोमयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• उपलेप्या: to be plastered/smeared
• उपलेप्या: Karya (कर्तव्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-लिप् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त, यत्/तव्यत्-समर्थ)
• Form: विधेय-कर्तव्यता (gerundive/तव्यर्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मेदिनी’ विशेषणम्

• इयम्: this (she/this earth)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• अर्थम्: purpose
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Madhu
• Kaitabha

FAQs

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

It frames ritual purity (śauca) as a spiritual safeguard: the ground, associated with demonic impurity, is ritually reclaimed through gomaya—treated as a sacred purifier—so that dharmic acts can be performed in a protected, sattvic space.

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

Bhakti is supported by proper sacred-space preparation: purifying the place of worship helps establish a conducive environment for Vishnu-oriented devotion, japa, and vrata observance by minimizing ritual obstacles and cultivating sattva.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style śauca norms—using prescribed purificatory substances (like gomaya) for cleansing and consecrating surfaces before rites and vows.