Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

शूद्राणां प्रध्यमं प्रोक्तं म्लेच्छस्य वधबन्धनम् । आख्वोत्वोर्दर्शनं दुष्टं गवाश्वस्य सुखावहम् ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

śūdrāṇāṃ pradhyamaṃ proktaṃ mlecchasya vadhabandhanam | ākhvotvordarśanaṃ duṣṭaṃ gavāśvasya sukhāvaham || 98 ||

Translation

Es wird gelehrt, dass für die Śūdras die vornehmste Strafe das Schlagen ist; für den mleccha hingegen Hinrichtung oder Gefangenschaft. Der Anblick von Kamel und Pferd gilt als unheilvoll, doch der Anblick von Kühen und Pferden wird als heilsam und wohltuend bezeichnet.

Word by Word

• शूद्राणाम्: of the Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• प्रध्यमम्: the foremost/primary
• प्रध्यमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/that which is stated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; passive sense ‘said/declared’

• म्लेच्छस्य: of a mleccha (foreigner/barbarian)
• म्लेच्छस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: म्लेच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वधबन्धनम्: killing and imprisonment/binding
• वधबन्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) ‘killing and binding’

• आख्वोत्वोः: of/at ‘ākhvotu’ (unclear term)
• आख्वोत्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्वोतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual, Genitive/Locative (6th/षष्ठी or 7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); form as transmitted (uncertain lexeme)

• दर्शनम्: seeing/appearance
• दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• दुष्टम्: evil/inauspicious
• दुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifies दर्शनम्

• गवाश्वस्य: of cow and horse
• गवाश्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter compound in Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; द्वन्द्व ‘cow and horse’

• सुखावहम्: bringing happiness
• सुखावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक from आ-वह् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘bringing happiness’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/śāstra context, within the technical-discursive section of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse reflects a dharma-śāstra style framework where social discipline and omen-lore (nimitta) are used to preserve order and to guide daily conduct through auspicious and inauspicious indicators.

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

Direct bhakti is not taught here; instead, it supports a devotional life indirectly by prescribing orderly conduct and attention to auspiciousness, which traditional texts treat as supportive (anukūla) for sādhana and ritual purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns most closely with nimitta-jñāna (omenology) and practical dharma rules—adjacent to the technical traditions that accompany Vedic practice—by classifying sights as auspicious/inauspicious for everyday decision-making.