Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

बालभावादविज्ञातस्वभावामुद्वहेद्यदि । प्रगल्भां वाऽगुणां ज्ञात्वा सर्वथा तां परित्यजेत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

bālabhāvādavijñātasvabhāvāmudvahedyadi | pragalbhāṃ vā'guṇāṃ jñātvā sarvathā tāṃ parityajet || 13 ||

Translation

Wenn man aufgrund jugendlicher Unreife eine Frau heiratet, deren Wesen noch nicht verstanden ist, und sie später als schamlos oder von schlechten Eigenschaften befindet, sollte man sich gänzlich von ihr lossagen.

Word by Word

• बाल-भावात्: from childishness
• बाल-भावात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बालस्य भावः (masc. abl. sg.)

• अविज्ञात-स्वभावाम्: whose nature is unknown
• अविज्ञात-स्वभावाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविज्ञात (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अविज्ञातः स्वभावः यस्याः (fem. acc. sg.)

• उद्वहेत्: should marry
• उद्वहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-निपात (conditional particle)

• प्रगल्भाम्: bold/forward
• प्रगल्भाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रगल्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अ-गुणाम्: without virtues
• अ-गुणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासभाव (privative): गुणरहिता (fem. acc. sg.)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ज्ञात्वा = having known

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun) (fem. acc. sg.)

• परित्यजेत्: should abandon
• परित्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames household life as a dharmic discipline: marriage should be grounded in known character and virtue, and persistent adharma in conduct is to be decisively rejected to protect one’s moral and spiritual life.

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

Indirectly, it safeguards bhakti by emphasizing purity of conduct (ācāra). A disturbed or adharmic household is presented as an obstacle to steady worship and disciplined living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the focus is on smriti-style dharma guidance for grihastha conduct and ethical discernment.