Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

बालापत्याश्च गर्भिण्यो ह्यदृष्टऋतवस्तथा । रजस्वला राजसुते नारोहन्ति चितां शुभे ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

bālāpatyāśca garbhiṇyo hyadṛṣṭaṛtavastathā | rajasvalā rājasute nārohanti citāṃ śubhe || 52 ||

Translation

O glückverheißende Prinzessin, Frauen mit kleinen Kindern, Schwangere, solche, die noch keine Menstruation hatten, und solche, die menstruieren, besteigen den Scheiterhaufen nicht.

Word by Word

• बाला-अपत्याः: women with small children
• बाला-अपत्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (having a young child/with infant offspring)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गर्भिण्यः: pregnant women
• गर्भिण्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ (indeed)

• अदृष्ट-ऋतवः: those who have not yet menstruated
• अदृष्ट-ऋतवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + दृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त; दृश्) + ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (those whose menses/season has not appeared)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise)

• रजस्वलाः: menstruating women
• रजस्वलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राज-सुते: O princess
• राज-सुते: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (daughter of a king)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• आरोहन्ति: ascend/climb
• आरोहन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• चिताम्: the pyre
• चिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of आरोहन्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभे: O auspicious one
• शुभे: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to a princess/rajaputri within the dharma-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It frames funeral-rite eligibility (adhikāra) as a dharmic safeguard, emphasizing śauca (ritual purity) and protection of vulnerable life-stages (pregnancy, early motherhood, and pre-puberty) rather than heroic display.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: by following prescribed conduct in rites, devotees maintain order (dharma) that sustains sattva and steadiness for Vishnu-bhakti and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and śauca-vidhi are implied—practical rules of eligibility and conduct in antyeṣṭi (funeral rites), including considerations related to ṛtu/rajas (menstrual status).