Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

परस्परस्य मर्माणि न कदापि वदेद्द्विजः । दर्शे च पौर्णमास्यां च यागं कुर्याद्यथाविधि ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

parasparasya marmāṇi na kadāpi vadeddvijaḥ | darśe ca paurṇamāsyāṃ ca yāgaṃ kuryādyathāvidhi || 38 ||

Translation

Ein Dvija, der „zweimal Geborene“, soll niemals die Schwächen oder verborgenen Fehler anderer aussprechen. Und an Darśa (Neumond) und Paurṇamāsī (Vollmond) soll er das Opfer gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung vollziehen.

Word by Word

• परस्परस्य: of one another
• परस्परस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मर्माणि: secrets/vulnerable points
• मर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• कदापि: ever/at any time
• कदापि: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (at any time/ever)

• वदेत्: should speak/tell
• वदेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्विजः: a twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दर्शे: on the new-moon day (darśa)
• दर्शे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day
• पौर्णमास्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्णमासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• यागम्: sacrifice/ritual offering
• यागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed procedure
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Darśa-Paurṇamāsa (new-moon/full-moon observance via yāga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It joins inner discipline with outer observance: guarding speech by not exposing others’ hidden faults purifies the mind, while performing Darśa–Paurṇamāsa rites sustains Vedic order (ṛta) through correct ritual action.

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

By restraining harmful speech, a devotee avoids aparādha (offense) and cultivates humility; by honoring sacred lunar observances through proper worship/offerings, one steadies devotion with regular, rule-based practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through “yathāvidhi” (according to injunction), and Jyotiṣa (lunar timing) is implied through the specific observances on Darśa (new moon) and Paurṇamāsī (full moon).