Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

स्तेनं च कितवं चैव कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् । पाषण्डं पतितं व्रात्यं तथा नक्षत्रजीविनम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

stenaṃ ca kitavaṃ caiva kadācinnābhivādayet | pāṣaṇḍaṃ patitaṃ vrātyaṃ tathā nakṣatrajīvinam || 37 ||

Translation

Man soll niemals einem Dieb oder Betrüger ehrerbietig grüßen. Ebenso wenig einem Pāṣaṇḍa (Irrgläubigen), einem Gefallenen, einem Vrātya, der von der vedischen Disziplin abgewichen ist, oder einem, der von den Sternen lebt und Astrologie zum Broterwerb macht.

Word by Word

• स्तेनम्: a thief
• स्तेनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• कितवम्: a gambler/cheat
• कितवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कितव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic: ‘indeed/just’)

• कदाचित्: ever, at any time
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: ‘ever/at any time’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अभिवादयेत्: should salute
• अभिवादयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√वद् (धातु) (causative: अभिवादयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पाषण्डम्: a heretic
• पाषण्डम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पतितम्: a fallen person (outcaste)
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रात्यम्: a vṛātya (one outside Vedic discipline)
• व्रात्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

• नक्षत्र-जीविनम्: one who lives by (reading) stars; an astrologer by livelihood
• नक्षत्र-जीविनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘नक्षत्रेण जीवति’ (one who lives by astrology)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and proper conduct)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment in honoring others: respect should reinforce dharma, not validate theft, deceit, or a life opposed to Vedic discipline; one’s gestures (like salutation) shape one’s associations and inner purity.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by sāttvika association and ethical living; avoiding public honor toward adharmic persons supports purity (śauca) and steady devotion, preventing the devotee from normalizing misconduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly references Jyotiṣa (a Vedāṅga) by warning against treating astrology as mere livelihood-driven trade; the takeaway is that Vedic sciences must be practiced with dharmic intent, not as exploitative profession.