Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 130

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

आतुरी कथिता ह्येषा सोतिक्यथ निगद्यते । सूतकं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं जाताख्यं मृतसंज्ञकम् ॥ १३० ॥

Transliteration

āturī kathitā hyeṣā sotikyatha nigadyate | sūtakaṃ dvividhaṃ proktaṃ jātākhyaṃ mṛtasaṃjñakam || 130 ||

Translation

Dieser Zustand (ritueller Unreinheit) ist in der Tat als „āturī“ beschrieben und wird auch „sotikā“ genannt. Sūtaka (rituelle Unreinheit) wird als zweifach erklärt: als Geburts-Unreinheit und als Todes-Unreinheit.

Word by Word

• आतुरी: the āturī (woman in childbirth/distress)
• आतुरी: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘आतुरी’ = a woman in distress/parturient (context: childbirth impurity)

• कथिता: is said/has been stated
• कथिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सोतिकी: (as) sotikī (parturient woman)
• सोतिकी: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोतिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; synonym of āturī (woman after delivery)

• अथ: also/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/then’

• निगद्यते: is called/said
• निगद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-गद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is called/ is spoken of)

• सूतकम्: sūtaka (impurity period)
• सूतकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; here subject (प्रथमा)

• द्विविधम्: twofold
• द्विविधम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: द्विगु (twofold)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is declared’

• जात-आख्यम्: called ‘jāta’ (birth-related)
• जात-आख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (जातम् आख्यं यस्य = called ‘birth-related’)

• मृत-संज्ञकम्: termed ‘mṛta’ (death-related)
• मृत-संज्ञकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (मृत-संज्ञा यस्य = termed ‘death-related’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma/vedāṅga-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames sūtaka (aśauca) as a regulated, dharma-based discipline: by recognizing and observing purity boundaries after birth and death, one protects the sanctity of mantra, worship, and household rites.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by clarifying when ritual worship and sacred duties should be paused or modified due to sūtaka, so devotion is maintained with proper scriptural conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights smārta/gṛhya procedural knowledge—classifying impurity into birth-related (jāta) and death-related (mṛta)—a key practical framework used for determining eligibility for rites, recitation, and worship.