Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

गर्भाधानादिसंस्काराः कार्या मंत्रविधानतः । स्त्रीणाममंत्रतः कार्या यथाकालं यथाविधि ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

garbhādhānādisaṃskārāḥ kāryā maṃtravidhānataḥ | strīṇāmamaṃtrataḥ kāryā yathākālaṃ yathāvidhi || 3 ||

Translation

The sacraments (saṃskāras) beginning with garbhādhāna should be performed according to the prescribed procedure of mantras. For women, they are to be performed without mantras—at the proper time and in the proper manner.

Word by Word

• गर्भाधान-आदि-संस्काराः: sacraments beginning with garbhādhāna
• गर्भाधान-आदि-संस्काराः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भाधान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः: गर्भाधानः आदिः येषां ते (गर्भाधानादयः) + संस्काराः → गर्भाधानादिसंस्काराः

• कार्याः: are to be performed
• कार्याः: विधेय/प्रत्यय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), -य (to be done), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• मन्त्र-विधानतः: according to the injunction of mantras
• मन्त्र-विधानतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb) -तः; समासः: मन्त्रस्य विधानम् → मन्त्रविधान; तस्मात्/तदनुसारतः (according to)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women / for women
• स्त्रीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अमन्त्रतः: without mantras
• अमन्त्रतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb) -तः; निषेधपूर्वक (without mantras)

• कार्याः: are to be performed
• कार्याः: विधेय/प्रत्यय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), -य (to be done), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (स्त्रीणाम् … संस्काराः) इति अध्याहारः

• यथा-कालम्: at the proper time
• यथा-कालम्: कालाधिकरण (Time adverbial/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः: यथाकालम् (at the proper time)

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथा-विधि: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः: यथाविधि (according to rule)

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 emphasizes dharmic order in household life: saṃskāras should be done with correct timing and method, showing that inner purity and adherence to vidhi are central to spiritual progress.

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

By prescribing disciplined, scripture-aligned conduct in saṃskāras, it frames daily and life-cycle rites as offerings done in obedience to dharma—supporting a devotional life rooted in reverence for śāstra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through mantra-vidhi and yathā-vidhi, and proper timing (yathā-kālam) aligns with Jyotiṣa-based muhūrta awareness used in saṃskāra performance.