Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

निष्फलस्तु स्मृतः सोमो विरञ्चिः सर्वकामदः । अनिलो वृद्धिदः प्रोक्तो यमो मृत्युप्रदो मतः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

niṣphalastu smṛtaḥ somo virañciḥ sarvakāmadaḥ | anilo vṛddhidaḥ prokto yamo mṛtyuprado mataḥ || 38 ||

Translation

Soma gilt als der, der keine Frucht gewährt; Virañci (Brahmā) ist der Spender aller ersehnten Ziele. Anila (Vāyu) wird als Geber von Wachstum und Mehrung verkündet, und Yama gilt als der, der den Tod zuteilt.

Word by Word

• निष्फलः: fruitless
• निष्फलः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषण/विरोध-अव्यय (particle)

• स्मृतः: is considered/remembered as
• स्मृतः: विधेय
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (is considered)

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विरञ्चिः: Virañci (Brahmā)
• विरञ्चिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरञ्चि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वकामदः: giver of all desires
• सर्वकामदः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarveṣāṃ kāmānāṃ dātā)

• अनिलः: Wind
• अनिलः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वृद्धिदः: giver of increase/prosperity
• वृद्धिदः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धि + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vṛddheḥ dātā)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: विधेय
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (is said)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मृत्युप्रदः: giver of death
• मृत्युप्रदः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mṛtyoḥ pradātā)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: विधेय
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + क्त → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (is regarded)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Virañci (Brahmā)
• Anila (Vāyu)
• Yama

FAQs

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

It classifies deity-associated outcomes—some leading to worldly increase (vṛddhi), some to fulfillment of desires, and some to the inevitable end (mṛtyu)—implicitly steering the seeker to prefer moksha-oriented practice over merely result-driven worship.

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

By contrasting limited, function-based boons (desires, growth, death) with the implied insufficiency of fruitive results, it supports the Narada Purana’s broader emphasis that devotion aimed at the Supreme (Vishnu-bhakti) should transcend temporary gains.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a karma-phala mapping used in ritual reasoning (kalpa): specific devatās are associated with specific results, helping a practitioner understand how intention (saṅkalpa) and deity-invocation align in Vedic ritual logic.