Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

फलकांडात्स्नुतं दुग्धं नीतं सद्यो रसावहम् । नालिके रफलांतस्थसलिले शशिना युते ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

phalakāṃḍātsnutaṃ dugdhaṃ nītaṃ sadyo rasāvaham | nālike raphalāṃtasthasalile śaśinā yute || 21 ||

Translation

Die Milch, die aus dem Stiel einer fruchttragenden Pflanze hervorquillt—frisch gewonnen und sogleich voller Wesenskraft—soll man tragen und in eine Röhre (nālikā) geben, in Wasser, in dem der „Mond“ (śaśin) gegenwärtig ist.

Word by Word

• फल-काण्डात्: from the fruit-stalk
• फल-काण्डात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + काण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular; ‘from the fruit-stalk’ (तत्पुरुष)

• स्नुतम्: dripped/oozed
• स्नुतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्नु (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘oozed/dripped’

• दुग्धम्: milk/latex-like sap
• दुग्धम्: कर्म/विधेय (Object/predicate substance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Nominative/Accusative singular

• नीतम्: taken/brought
• नीतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘taken/brought’

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — कालवाचक (adverb of time): ‘immediately’

• रस-आवहम्: juice-yielding
• रस-आवहम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘bringing/producing juice/flavor’ (तत्पुरुष)

• नालिके: in a tube/vessel
• नालिके: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• र-फल-अन्त-स्थ-सलिले: in the water located inside (the raphala)
• र-फल-अन्त-स्थ-सलिले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: र (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; ‘in the water situated inside the raphala(?)’ (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष)

• शशिना: with the moon; by moonlight
• शशिना: सह/करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• युते: joined/combined
• युते: विशेषण (Qualifier in locative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) from युज्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular agreeing with सलिले: ‘when/where joined’

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within Vedanga/technical topic)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

The verse frames a precise preparation method: freshness (sadyas) and correct conditions (placement in water with śaśin) are treated as essential for efficacy, reflecting the Purana’s emphasis on disciplined, rule-bound application of sacred/technical knowledge.

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

Bhakti here is indirect: it emphasizes careful observance and purity in prescribed acts—an attitude of reverent exactness that supports devotional life by aligning conduct with scriptural injunction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural precision—selection of a specific substance (fresh plant-derived ‘milk’) and conditioning with a lunar factor (śaśin)—a hallmark of technical disciplines allied to ritual timing and method.