Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

समुद्रयात्रास्वीकारः कमंडलुविधारणम् । द्विजानामसवर्णासु कन्यासूपयमस्तथा ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

samudrayātrāsvīkāraḥ kamaṃḍaluvidhāraṇam | dvijānāmasavarṇāsu kanyāsūpayamastathā || 13 ||

Translation

Das Meiden von Seereisen, das Tragen des kamaṇḍalu (Wassergefäß des Bettelasketen) und ebenso die Eheschließung von Dvija-Männern mit Mädchen einer anderen Varṇa (upayama) — dies wird hier genannt.

Word by Word

• समुद्रयात्रा: sea-voyage
• समुद्रयात्रा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र-यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक; समुद्र + यात्रा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (समुद्रस्य यात्रा)

• अस्वीकारः: refusal/prohibition (of acceptance)
• अस्वीकारः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-स्वीकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ ‘non-acceptance/refusal’

• कमण्डलुविधारणम्: carrying a kamaṇḍalu
• कमण्डलुविधारणम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु-वि-धारण (प्रातिपदिक; कमण्डलु + विधारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कमण्डलोः विधारणम् = carrying a water-pot)

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born
• द्विजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• असवर्णासु: among women of a different varṇa
• असवर्णासु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सवर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ ‘of different varṇa’; used adjectivally

• कन्यासु: among maidens
• कन्यासु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपयमः: marriage (taking in marriage)
• उपयमः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + यम् (धातु) → उपयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘marriage/leading (a bride)’

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-context dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as disciplined ācāra (right conduct), listing markers and boundaries traditionally applied to dvijas—especially regarding travel, symbols of life-stage/renunciation, and marriage norms.

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

Indirectly: bhakti in the Purāṇic worldview is supported by regulated living (niyama). The verse emphasizes that devotional life is strengthened when one’s social and ritual conduct aligns with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the takeaway is smārta-dharma application—how rules of conduct are operationalized in daily life (ācāra) for dvijas.