Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

निवेद्य गुरवेऽश्रीयाद्वाग्यतस्तदनुज्ञया । मधुस्त्रीमांसलवणं ताम्बूलं दंतधावनम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

nivedya gurave'śrīyādvāgyatastadanujñayā | madhustrīmāṃsalavaṇaṃ tāmbūlaṃ daṃtadhāvanam || 30 ||

Translation

Nachdem man es zuerst dem Guru dargebracht hat und die Rede gezügelt ist, soll man nur mit seiner Erlaubnis zu sich nehmen. In dieser Übung meide man Honig, Umgang mit Frauen, Fleisch, Salz, Betel (tāmbūla) und das Reinigen der Zähne.

Word by Word

• निवेद्य: having offered/submitted
• निवेद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘निवेद्य’ = ‘निवेदयित्वा/निवेद्य’ (causative sense in usage: ‘offer/submit’)

• गुरवे: to the teacher
• गुरवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन (Dative)

• अश्रीयात्: should take/accept (resort to)
• अश्रीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘आश्रयेत्/अश्रीयात्’ = should resort to/accept

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘वाचा यतः’ (speech-restrained)

• तत्-अनुज्ञया: with his permission
• तत्-अनुज्ञया: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्य अनुज्ञया’

• मधु: honey
• मधु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स्त्री: women
• स्त्री: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (collective sense: women)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (leaf/chew)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दन्त-धावनम्: tooth-cleaning
• दन्त-धावनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘दन्तानां धावनम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It emphasizes humility and obedience to the Guru—discipline of speech and conduct, and living by permission, are presented as essential niyamas for spiritual progress.

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

By training the seeker in self-restraint and guru-bhakti (reverent service to the teacher), it supports steadiness of mind—an ethical foundation that sustains Vishnu-bhakti and scriptural practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual discipline (ācāra/niyama): regulated behavior, purity rules, and permission-based observance under a teacher’s guidance.