Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

वैश्वोपनयनं प्रोक्तं गर्भाद्द्वादशमे तथा । चतुर्विंशाब्दपर्यंतं गौणमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

vaiśvopanayanaṃ proktaṃ garbhāddvādaśame tathā | caturviṃśābdaparyaṃtaṃ gauṇamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Der Ritus, der „vaiśva‑upanayana“ (allgemeine Upanayana) genannt wird, soll im zwölften Jahr, von der Empfängnis an gerechnet, vollzogen werden; und die Weisen erklären, dass er bis zum vierundzwanzigsten Jahr noch zulässig ist, jedoch nur in nachrangigem (weniger idealem) Sinn.

Word by Word

• वैश्योपनयनम्: vaiśya upanayana
• वैश्योपनयनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; with प्रोक्तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य-उपनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वैश्यस्य उपनयनम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (upanayana of a vaiśya)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय (Predicate/vidheya)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• गर्भात्: from conception
• गर्भात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (ablative: from conception)

• द्वादशमे: in the twelfth (year)
• द्वादशमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; (अब्दे/वर्षे इति अध्याहृतम्) locative: in the twelfth (year)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• चतुर्विंशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: up to twenty-four years
• चतुर्विंशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: अवधि (Avadhi/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्-विṃश-अब्द-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial limit: up to twenty-four years)

• गौणम्: secondary
• गौणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (कालम् इति विशेषणम्) secondary

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they say)

• मनीषिणः: the wise
• मनीषिणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (subject)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in saṃskāra-dharma context)

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 emphasizes saṃskāra-dharma: upanayana should be done at the proper time so Vedic study and disciplined life begin without delay; postponement weakens the intended (primary) formation.

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

Indirectly: timely upanayana establishes daily disciplines (like mantra-japa and regulated conduct) that later support steadiness in devotion, even though the verse itself focuses on ritual eligibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and calendrical/age reckoning—especially counting years from conception for saṃskāra timing—reflects practical dharma-śāstra application allied to Vedanga-style precision.