Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

वर्जयेद्ग्रामजातानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च । अष्टौ ग्रासांश्च भुञ्जीत न कुर्याद्रात्रिभोजनम् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

varjayedgrāmajātāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca | aṣṭau grāsāṃśca bhuñjīta na kuryādrātribhojanam || 88 ||

Translation

Man meide Speisen, die in Dörfern hervorgebracht werden, ebenso Blumen und Früchte. Man esse nur acht Bissen und nehme nachts keine Nahrung zu sich.

Word by Word

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj/varj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/विधिलिङ्-समर्थ आदेशार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातुः √वर्ज् (to avoid)

• grāma-jātāni: village-produced (items)
• grāma-jātāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक) + jāta (कृदन्त, √jan)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (grāme jātāni = born/produced in a village)

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक, संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम् (numeral adjective)

• grāsān: mouthfuls
• grāsān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• bhuñjīta: should eat
• bhuñjīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/should), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातुः √भुज् (to eat/enjoy)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• kuryāt: should do/make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/should), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातुः √कृ (to do)

• rātri-bhojanam: night-eating
• rātri-bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (rātrau bhojanam = eating at night)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches vrata-style self-restraint through regulated diet—avoiding certain foods, limiting quantity to a measured amount, and refraining from night-eating—so the practitioner’s senses become steady and the mind remains fit for japa, puja, and contemplation.

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

Bhakti is supported by discipline: by eating lightly and avoiding night meals, lethargy and sense-indulgence reduce, making daily worship and remembrance of the Lord easier and more consistent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style practical ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) concerning āhāra (diet) and niyama (conduct), emphasizing measurable intake (grāsa-pramāṇa) and time-restriction (avoiding rātri-bhojana).