Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

भर्त्तुः शरीरशुश्रूषां दौरात्म्यादप्रकुर्वती । दण्ड्या द्वादशकं नारी वर्षं त्याज्या धनं विना ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

bharttuḥ śarīraśuśrūṣāṃ daurātmyādaprakurvatī | daṇḍyā dvādaśakaṃ nārī varṣaṃ tyājyā dhanaṃ vinā || 17 ||

Translation

Eine Frau, die aus böser Gesinnung den gebührenden Dienst am Körper ihres Gatten nicht verrichtet, ist mit zwölf (Einheiten) zu bestrafen. Beharrt sie darin, soll sie für ein Jahr verlassen werden, ohne irgendeine Geld- oder Güterzuwendung.

Word by Word

• भर्तुः: of the husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (sg.)

• शरीरशुश्रूषाम्: service/attendance to (his) body
• शरीरशुश्रूषाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः शरीरस्य शुश्रूषा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दौरात्म्यात्: from wickedness / due to ill-nature
• दौरात्म्यात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौरात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (sg.)

• अप्रकुर्वती: not performing (it)
• अप्रकुर्वती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); नञ्-पूर्वक (not doing)

• दण्ड्या: to be punished / punishable
• दण्ड्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• द्वादशकम्: a set of twelve (units)
• द्वादशकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; measure of punishment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.); द्विगु-समासः द्वादश (12) + क (group)

• नारी: the woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• वर्षम्: for a year
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• त्याज्या: to be abandoned
• त्याज्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• धनम्: wealth/property
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; accompaniment/condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Prepositional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: वियोगार्थक-अव्यय/उपपद (indeclinable preposition: without), द्वितीयान्त-सम्बन्धः (governs accusative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames household life (gṛhastha-dharma) as a regulated spiritual arena where intentional malice (daurātmya) in relationships is treated as adharma, warranting corrective discipline (daṇḍa) and temporary separation to restore order.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes ethical purity and responsible conduct as supports for sāttvika living, which the Purāṇas treat as foundational for steady Vishnu-bhakti; devotion is strengthened when one’s domestic duties are performed without hostility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No Vedāṅga technical science (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—rule-based conduct and proportional penalties (daṇḍa) used to preserve social and household order.