Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रपाठजीवी च तथा च शवदाहकः । कुवादी परिर्वत्ता च तथा देवलकः खलः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

nakṣatrapāṭhajīvī ca tathā ca śavadāhakaḥ | kuvādī parirvattā ca tathā devalakaḥ khalaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Wer vom Rezitieren von Nakṣatra‑Deutungen lebt, wer Leichname verbrennt, der verkehrte Streithahn, der Wendehals, der ständig die Seite wechselt, und ebenso der Devalaka, der den Göttern um Lohn dient—ein solcher Mensch ist ein Böser.

Word by Word

• nakṣatra-pāṭha-jīvī: one who lives by reciting astrology (nakṣatra-reading)
• nakṣatra-pāṭha-jīvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + jīvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nakṣatra-pāṭhasya jīvī = one who lives by reciting/reading astrology)

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

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

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

• śava-dāhakaḥ: corpse-burner
• śava-dāhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक) + dāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śavasya dāhakaḥ)

• ku-vādī: one who speaks wrongly; a slanderer
• ku-vādī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ku- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (ku-vādī = bad speaker/one who speaks wrongly)

• parirvattā: a turncoat; one who changes sides
• parirvattā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parivartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपम्—परिवर्तिन्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन (परिवर्त्ता/परिर्वत्ता)

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

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

• devalakaḥ: temple-servant; one who lives by temple service
• devalakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devalaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• khalaḥ: a wicked person
• khalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It warns that dharma is not only about rites but also about livelihood and character; professions and habits that foster impurity, deception, or harmful speech are marked as spiritually degrading.

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

Bhakti is supported by śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct); the verse cautions that mercenary or harmful ways of living and quarrelsome disputation obstruct a sattvic mind needed for sincere devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It touches Jyotiṣa (a Vedāṅga) indirectly by criticizing living off nakṣatra-recitation as a trade, implying that sacred sciences should be practiced with integrity rather than as exploitative fortune-telling.