Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

भवदत्यं विशः प्रोक्तं भिक्षाहरणकं वचः । सांयप्रातर्वह्निकार्यं यथाचारं जितेंद्रियः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

bhavadatyaṃ viśaḥ proktaṃ bhikṣāharaṇakaṃ vacaḥ | sāṃyaprātarvahnikāryaṃ yathācāraṃ jiteṃdriyaḥ || 26 ||

Translation

Er soll nur wahrhaftige Worte sprechen, wie es für den Vaiśya vorgeschrieben ist, und von Worten leben, die Almosen erwirken (also vom rechten Betteln). Selbstbeherrscht soll er die Feuerriten am Abend und am Morgen nach der überlieferten Ordnung des Wandels vollziehen.

Word by Word

• bhavat-atyam: thereafter/then
• bhavat-atyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + atya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण); ‘after that/thereafter’ (contextual adverb)

• viśaḥ: of the people/viś
• viśaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (collective: people/viś)

• proktam: is said/declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रियापूरक/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac धातु with pra-)
• Form: Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Neuter; past passive participle used predicatively

• bhikṣā-haraṇakam: concerning the taking of alms
• bhikṣā-haraṇakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇaka (प्रातिपदिक; from √hṛ)
• Form: Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Neuter; तत्पुरुषः: bhikṣāyāḥ haraṇakam (pertaining to bringing alms)

• vacaḥ: statement/wording
• vacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• sāyam-prātaḥ-vahni-kāryam: the evening and morning fire-ritual duty
• sāyam-prātaḥ-vahni-kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyam (अव्यय) + prātaḥ (अव्यय) + vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Neuter; multi-member compound: ‘evening-and-morning fire-duty’ (vahneḥ kāryam) with temporal qualifiers

• yathā-ācāram: according to custom
• yathā-ācāram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; ‘according to proper conduct’

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled
• jita-indriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त; √ji धातु) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; बहुव्रीहिः: jītāni indriyāṇi yasya (one whose senses are conquered)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 links inner restraint (jitendriya) with outer discipline—truthful speech, regulated livelihood, and daily fire-rites—showing that purity of conduct sustains spiritual steadiness.

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

By emphasizing truthful speech, self-control, and faithful performance of daily sacred duties, it outlines the ethical and ritual foundation that supports steady devotion and reverence toward the divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit through the instruction to perform morning and evening fire-duties (vahni-kārya/Agnihotra) according to established ācāra.