Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

वेदग्रहणपर्यंतं निवसेद्गुरुवेश्मनि । प्रातः स्नायी भवेद्वर्णी समित्कुशफलादिकान् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vedagrahaṇaparyaṃtaṃ nivasedguruveśmani | prātaḥ snāyī bhavedvarṇī samitkuśaphalādikān || 22 ||

Translation

Until he has fully mastered the Vedas, the student should reside in the teacher’s house. The brahmacārin should bathe at dawn and procure firewood, kuśa grass, fruits, and other such requisites (for the guru and the rites).

Word by Word

• वेद-ग्रहण-पर्यन्तम्: until the completion of Veda-study
• वेद-ग्रहण-पर्यन्तम्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय, काल/अवधि-निर्देश (temporal limit)

• निवसेत्: should reside
• निवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + नि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरु-वेश्मनि: in the teacher’s house
• गुरु-वेश्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्नायी: bathing (regularly)
• स्नायी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + इन्-प्रत्यय → स्नायिन् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who bathes’

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्णी: the student (brahmacārin)
• वर्णी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; brahmacārin/student

• समित्-कुश-फल-आदिकान्: fuel-sticks, kuśa grass, fruits, etc.
• समित्-कुश-फल-आदिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/सूची-तत्पुरुष (enumerative); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘fuel-sticks, kuśa, fruits, etc.’

Speaker

Narada

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 presents brahmacarya as a disciplined, service-based path: living with the guru until Vedic learning is complete, and purifying oneself daily through dawn-bathing and humble seva that supports sacred study and ritual order.

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

Though not naming a deity here, it frames devotion as obedient service (guru-sevā) and purity of conduct—foundational attitudes that mature into bhakti through reverence, self-restraint, and dedicated practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to practical ritual discipline connected with Kalpa (ritual procedure): collecting samit and kuśa used in rites, and maintaining daily purity (snāna) as a prerequisite for Vedic study and ceremonial acts.