Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

कोपालिकान्नभोक्तॄणां तन्नारीगामिनां तथा । अगम्यागमने विप्रो मद्यगो मांसभक्षणे ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

kopālikānnabhoktṝṇāṃ tannārīgāmināṃ tathā | agamyāgamane vipro madyago māṃsabhakṣaṇe || 28 ||

Translation

Ein Brāhmaṇa wird schwerlich zu Fall gebracht, wenn er die Speise der Kāpālikas isst, mit ihren Frauen Umgang pflegt, sich mit verbotenen Frauen vereinigt, Berauschendes trinkt und Fleisch verzehrt.

Word by Word

• kopālikānnabhoktṝṇām: of those who eat the food of Kāpālikās
• kopālikānnabhoktṝṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopālikā-anna-bhoktṛ (प्रातिपदिक; kopālikā + anna + bhoktṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); bhoktṛ-śabda (agent noun)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• nārīgāminām: of those who go to (other) women
• nārīgāminām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī-gāmin (प्रातिपदिक; nārī + gāmin)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); gāmin = ‘goer/one who goes to’

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adverb/conjunction (समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ)

• agamya-āgamane: in illicit intercourse
• agamya-āgamane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agamya-āgamana (प्रातिपदिक; agamya + āgamana)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘approach to the unapproachable’ (illicit intercourse)

• vipraḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• madyagaḥ: one who drinks liquor
• madyagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madya-ga (प्रातिपदिक; madya + ga)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ga = ‘one who goes to/engages in’

• māṃsabhakṣaṇe: in eating meat
• māṃsabhakṣaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa-bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; māṃsa + bhakṣaṇa)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines actions that destroy a brāhmaṇa’s dharmic purity—impure food, illicit association, intoxicants, and meat—showing that inner progress depends on strict ethical and ritual discipline.

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

Bhakti in the Purana is supported by śauca (purity) and sadācāra (right conduct); avoiding these defiling acts protects sattva and steadiness needed for Vishnu-bhakti and japa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmashastra-style application of śauca and āhāra-niyama (purity and diet rules), which align with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and proper ācāra for maintaining eligibility for Vedic rites.