Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माचार्यौ स्वशाखौ हि कर्तव्यौ यज्ञकर्मणि । ऋत्विजां नियमो नास्ति यथालाभं समर्चयेत् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

brahmācāryau svaśākhau hi kartavyau yajñakarmaṇi | ṛtvijāṃ niyamo nāsti yathālābhaṃ samarcayet || 25 ||

Translation

In the sacrificial rite, two brahmacārins (students of holy continence) belonging to one’s own Vedic branch should indeed be appointed. As for the officiating priests (ṛtvij), there is no rigid restriction—one should duly honor and employ them as they are available.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माचार्यौ: two brahmacārins (students)
• ब्रह्माचार्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• स्वशाखौ: (two) of one’s own branch/tradition
• स्वशाखौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-शाखा (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + शाखा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• कर्तव्यौ: to be done / should be performed
• कर्तव्यौ: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• यज्ञकर्मणि: in the sacrificial rite
• यज्ञकर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ + कर्मन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋत्विजाम्: of the priests
• ऋत्विजाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नियमः: restriction / rule
• नियमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle), अव्यय

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा-लाभम्: according to availability
• यथा-लाभम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship / should honor
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic practicality in ritual life: keep core Vedic propriety (using one’s own śākhā-trained brahmacārins) while avoiding rigidity about external availability, sustaining yajña as a living discipline rather than a blocked ideal.

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

By prioritizing sincere, orderly worship over perfectionism, it supports bhakti as steady practice—honoring those who assist the rite and maintaining reverence, which aligns ritual action with devotion and humility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and śākhā-based discipline—how rites are organized according to one’s Vedic recension, and how officiants are selected in a workable, rule-aware manner.