Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

दत्ताक्षतायाः कन्यायाः पुनर्दानं वराय च । नैष्टिकं ब्रह्मचर्यं च नरमेधाश्चमेधकौ ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

dattākṣatāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ punardānaṃ varāya ca | naiṣṭikaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca naramedhāścamedhakau || 15 ||

Translation

Eine bereits förmlich (durch den Akṣata-Ritus) gegebene Jungfrau erneut zu verheiraten und sie wiederum einem anderen Bräutigam zu geben; ebenso das strenge Gelübde lebenslanger Brahmacarya; und die Opfer, genannt Naramedha und Medha — all dies wird hier als schwere Ungehörigkeit und tadelnswertes Tun aufgeführt.

Word by Word

• दत्त-अक्षतायाः: of the (girl) whose ‘akṣata’ has been given (betrothed)
• दत्त-अक्षतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा दाने) + अक्षता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दत्ता च सा अक्षता)

• कन्यायाः: of a maiden
• कन्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• दानम्: giving (in marriage)
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वराय: to a bridegroom
• वराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नैष्टिकम्: perpetual/strict (lifelong)
• नैष्टिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्मचर्यस्य)

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibate studentship
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नरमेधाः: human-sacrifices
• नरमेधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नरस्य मेधः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मेधकौ: two kinds of ‘medhaka’ sacrifices
• मेधकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It underscores that Dharma is not merely ritual performance but moral order—certain acts (especially those harming social and ethical foundations) are explicitly censured, even if framed as ‘rites’.

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

By implying that devotion must rest on righteous conduct: Bhakti to Vishnu is not compatible with cruel, deceptive, or socially disruptive actions presented as religious.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It touches ritual propriety and dharma-vidhi (rules of rites), including marriage-saṃskāra markers like akṣata; this aligns with kalpa-type practical regulation of ceremonies.