Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

युगधर्मः परिग्राह्यो वेर्णैरेतैर्यथोचितम् । देशाचारास्तथाग्राह्याः स्मृतिधर्माविरोधतः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yugadharmaḥ parigrāhyo verṇairetairyathocitam | deśācārāstathāgrāhyāḥ smṛtidharmāvirodhataḥ || 11 ||

Translation

Die Dharma jeder Yuga ist von diesen Varṇas in der ihnen angemessenen Weise anzunehmen. Ebenso sind örtliche Bräuche zu akzeptieren, sofern sie der in den Smṛtis gelehrten Dharma nicht widersprechen.

Word by Word

• युगधर्मः: the duty of the age
• युगधर्मः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक; युग + धर्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (युगस्य धर्मः)

• परिग्राह्यः: should be adopted
• परिग्राह्यः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + ग्रह् (धातु) → परिग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्/ण्यत्-कर्तव्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive) ‘to be accepted/adopted’

• वर्णैः: by the varṇas
• वर्णैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative used adjectivally

• यथोचितम्: as appropriate
• यथोचितम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावः (यथा + उचितम्) = ‘as is proper/appropriately’

• देशाचाराः: local customs
• देशाचाराः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश-आचार (प्रातिपदिक; देश + आचार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देशस्य आचाराः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction/adverb ‘also/likewise’

• ग्राह्याः: are to be accepted
• ग्राह्याः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्/ण्यत्-कर्तव्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive) ‘to be accepted’

• स्मृतिधर्माविरोधतः: without contradicting smṛti-dharma
• स्मृतिधर्माविरोधतः: हेतु/निबन्धन (Condition/निबन्धन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृति-धर्म-अविरोध (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृति + धर्म + अविरोध)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘-तः’ तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त adverb ‘without opposition’; अव्ययीभावः (स्मृतिधर्माविरोध + तः) = ‘without contradicting smṛti-dharma’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It establishes a key dharmic principle: practice must suit time (yuga) and one’s station (varṇa), while remaining anchored in Smṛti-based righteousness—so spirituality stays both livable and scripturally grounded.

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

By implying that devotional and religious practice should be adapted to one’s context (age, community, capability) but never in ways that contradict dharma—supporting steady, rule-aligned bhakti rather than arbitrary innovation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the applied side of Dharmaśāstra and Smṛti interpretation—how to judge custom and conduct (ācāra) against scriptural norms, a practical hermeneutic skill used in ritual and social dharma.