Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

पिबेत्पुष्करपर्णे वा मृन्मये वा कुशोदकम् । सूतके तु समुत्पन्ने द्वितीये समुपस्थिते ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

pibetpuṣkaraparṇe vā mṛnmaye vā kuśodakam | sūtake tu samutpanne dvitīye samupasthite || 71 ||

Translation

Wenn sūtaka (rituelle Unreinheit nach Geburt oder Tod) eingetreten ist und der zweite Tag gekommen ist, soll man Kuśa-Wasser trinken – entweder aus einem Lotusblatt oder aus einem irdenen Gefäß.

Word by Word

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुष्करपर्णे: in a lotus leaf
• पुष्करपर्णे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘पुष्करस्य पर्णम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• मृन्मये: in an earthen (vessel)
• मृन्मये: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृन्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मृन्मये (भाण्डे)’—earthen

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• कुशोदकम्: kuśa-infused water
• कुशोदकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘कुशैः संस्कृतम् उदकम्/kuśa-water’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूतके: in the impurity period (sūtaka)
• सूतके: अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• समुत्पन्ने: when it has arisen
• समुत्पन्ने: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्-पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सूतके ... समुत्पन्ने’—when arisen/occurred

• द्वितीये: on the second (day)
• द्वितीये: अधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘द्वितीये (अह्नि)’—on the second (day)

• समुपस्थिते: when it has come/present
• समुपस्थिते: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उप-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘समुपस्थिते’—when arrived/present

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Kuśa
• Puṣkara (lotus)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) even during sūtaka by prescribing a minimally contaminating, sanctified way of taking water—kuśa-water in natural, pure containers (lotus leaf or clay).

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by maintaining ritual discipline and purity, which traditionally prepares the practitioner for worship, japa, and sacred observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies correct conduct and acceptable materials during impurity periods, reflecting applied dharma-śāstra style rules within Purāṇic instruction.