Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

रात्रिभिर्मासतुल्याभिर्गर्भस्त्रावे विशुद्ध्यति । रजस्युपरते साध्वी स्नानेन स्त्री रजस्वला ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

rātribhirmāsatulyābhirgarbhastrāve viśuddhyati | rajasyuparate sādhvī snānena strī rajasvalā || 74 ||

Translation

Bei einer Fehlgeburt wird Reinheit nach so vielen Nächten erlangt, wie die Schwangerschaft Monate währte. Wenn der Menstruationsfluss aufgehört hat, wird die menstruierende Frau durch ein Bad rein.

Word by Word

• रात्रिभिः: by nights
• रात्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• मास-तुल्याभिः: equal to (a) month (in count/measure)
• मास-तुल्याभिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मासेन तुल्याः) — Instrumental plural agreeing with 'रात्रिभिः'

• गर्भ-स्रावे: in miscarriage/fetal discharge
• गर्भ-स्रावे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्राव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य स्रावः) — Locative singular

• विशुद्ध्यति: is purified
• विशुद्ध्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन — becomes purified

• रजसि: when the menses
• रजसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• उपरते: having ceased
• उपरते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप√रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle/कृत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — 'having ceased' agreeing with 'रजसि' (locative absolute sense)

• साध्वी: the virtuous woman
• साध्वी: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• स्त्री: a woman
• स्त्री: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular (apposition to 'साध्वी')

• रजस्वला: menstruating
• रजस्वला: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular qualifying 'स्त्री'

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in instruction on dharma/śauca norms, within the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames purity (śauca) as a dharmic discipline: bodily states like miscarriage and menstruation carry temporary aśauca, resolved through a defined period and the purifying act of snāna, restoring eligibility for rites and daily religious conduct.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by clarifying when one is ritually fit to perform worship, japa, and household observances—showing that orderly dharma and śauca uphold steady practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies actionable śauca rules—time-based purification after miscarriage and purification by bathing after menstruation ceases—used to regulate eligibility for rites.