Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

गृह्यकल्पे तु सर्वेषामुपयोगितयाऽधुना । वक्ष्यामि ते द्विजश्रेष्ठ सावधानतया शृणु ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhyakalpe tu sarveṣāmupayogitayā'dhunā | vakṣyāmi te dvijaśreṣṭha sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu || 9 ||

Translation

Nun werde ich, um ihre praktische Anwendbarkeit für alle darzulegen, dir den Gṛhya-Kalpa (Hausritualkodex) erklären, o Bester der Zweimalgeborenen; höre mit voller Achtsamkeit zu.

Word by Word

• गृह्य-कल्पे: in the Gṛhya-kalpa (domestic rites section)
• गृह्य-कल्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘गृह्यः कल्पः’ (gṛhya-kalpa)

• तु: now/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (of them)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; used substantively

• उपयोगितया: for (their) practical usefulness
• उपयोगितया: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपयोगिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; हेतौ/करणे तृतीया (by reason of/for the sake of usefulness)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्विज-श्रेष्ठ: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय: ‘द्विजेषु श्रेष्ठः’

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: Karana (करण/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावधानता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial instrumental (manner)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It signals a shift from general doctrine to actionable Dharma: the text frames domestic rites (gṛhya-kalpa) as practically usable guidance, to be received with careful attention as part of a disciplined spiritual life.

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

While Bhakti is not explicitly named here, the verse prepares the listener for disciplined daily practice; in the Purāṇic framework, orderly gṛhya observances support purity and steadiness, which become a foundation for sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (a Vedāṅga) is foregrounded—specifically the Gṛhya branch dealing with household rites and procedures—presented as a usable ritual manual rather than mere theory.