Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

ग्रहोपरागे संक्रान्तौ पर्वोत्सवमलालये । निर्वपेत्र्रीन्नरः पिण्डानेकमेव मृतेऽहनि ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

grahoparāge saṃkrāntau parvotsavamalālaye | nirvapetrrīnnaraḥ piṇḍānekameva mṛte'hani || 80 ||

Translation

Bei einer Finsternis, zur Saṅkrānti (Sonnenübergang), an Festtagen und in Zeiten des Unheils soll ein Mann drei Piṇḍas darbringen; am Todestag jedoch nur einen einzigen Piṇḍa.

Word by Word

• graha-uparāge: at an eclipse (of a luminary)
• graha-uparāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक) + uparāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃkrāntau: at saṅkrānti (solar transit)
• saṃkrāntau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkrānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• parva-utsava-mala-ālaye: on festival/holy days and in an impure place
• parva-utsava-mala-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक) + mala (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); enumerative compound meaning 'in parva/utsava/mala-ālaya (impure place)'

• nirvapet: should offer/place down
• nirvapet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-vap (निर्+वप् धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• trīn: three
• trīn: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral

• naraḥ: a man (person)
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• piṇḍān: rice-ball offerings
• piṇḍān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); (text implies 'one (each)')

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण निपात)

• mṛte: on the (person’s) death (day)
• mṛte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used with ahani

• ahani: on the day
• ahani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in the śrāddha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It codifies dharmic timing and procedure for Pitṛ-kārya: special cosmic or societal conditions (eclipse, saṅkrānti, festivals, calamity) warrant a fuller ancestral offering (three piṇḍas), while the death-day rite is kept distinct and minimal (one piṇḍa), preserving ritual correctness and intention.

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

Though primarily ritual, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: honoring ancestors at prescribed times is a form of reverent duty that aligns the devotee’s life with sacred order, which Narada’s tradition treats as supportive to sustained Viṣṇu-bhakti and purity of conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) is implicit: eclipse (grahoparāga) and saṅkrānti are calendrical/astronomical markers used to determine when specific śrāddha procedures—like offering three piṇḍas—should be performed.