Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

निराहारा शुचिस्तिष्टेत्काले स्नानेन शुद्ध्यति । रजस्वले यदा नार्यावन्योन्यं स्पृशतः क्वचित् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nirāhārā śucistiṣṭetkāle snānena śuddhyati | rajasvale yadā nāryāvanyonyaṃ spṛśataḥ kvacit || 13 ||

Translation

Abstaining from food, one should remain in a state of purity; at the proper time one is cleansed by bathing. If at any time women touch one another when one is menstruating, the appropriate purification should be observed according to rule.

Word by Word

• निराहारा: without food, fasting
• निराहारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः निः + आहारः → निराहारः (नञ्/उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष)

• शुचिः: pure, clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• तिष्ठेत्: should remain/stand
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• शुद्ध्यति: becomes purified
• शुद्ध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• रजस्वले: when (a woman) is menstruating
• रजस्वले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal indeclinable/adverb)

• नार्यौ: two women
• नार्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (du.)

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; reciprocal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परस्परवाचक-अव्यय (reciprocal indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण

• स्पृशतः: touch (each other)
• स्पृशतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन (du.)

• क्वचित्: at any time / somewhere
• क्वचित्: Desha-Kala (देश-काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चित-स्थान/कालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: somewhere/at some time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 śauca (ritual cleanliness) as a dharmic discipline: restraint (fasting) and timely snāna (bath) restore purity after situations of impurity, reinforcing mindfulness in daily conduct.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports devotional life by prescribing bodily and ritual disciplines (śauca, snāna, fasting) that traditionally accompany worship, vrata observance, and temple/puja eligibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure—practical rules for purification by snāna and conduct during rajasvala-related contact—aligned with dharmaśāstra and ritual manuals used in Vedic practice.