Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

उच्छिष्टभोजनं चैव दिवास्वापं च वर्जयेत् । छत्रपादुक गंधांश्च तथा माल्यानुलेपनम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

ucchiṣṭabhojanaṃ caiva divāsvāpaṃ ca varjayet | chatrapāduka gaṃdhāṃśca tathā mālyānulepanam || 31 ||

Translation

One should avoid eating leftover or impure food, and also avoid sleeping during the day. Likewise, one should refrain from using an umbrella and footwear, as well as from perfumes, garlands, and bodily unguents.

Word by Word

• उच्छिष्ट-भोजनम्: leftover food/eating remnants
• उच्छिष्ट-भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘उच्छिष्टं भोजनम्’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• दिवा-स्वापम्: sleeping in the daytime
• दिवा-स्वापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + स्वाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः ‘दिवा स्वापः’ (day-sleep)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पादुके: sandals (pair)
• पादुके: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• गन्धान्: fragrances/perfumes
• गन्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/likewise)

• माल्य-अनुलेपनम्: garlands and unguents
• माल्य-अनुलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) ‘माल्यं च अनुलेपनं च’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to 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 teaches niyamas (disciplines) that protect ritual purity and steady the mind—avoiding impurity (ucchiṣṭa), lethargy (day-sleep), and sense-indulgent adornments—so worship and vows remain focused and sattvic.

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

Bhakti is supported by self-restraint: minimizing comforts and ornamentation reduces distraction and ego-display, helping the devotee keep attention on the Lord during vrata, japa, and pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and śauca (purity rules) used in vrata and temple/pūjā contexts—practical do’s and don’ts that maintain eligibility and attentiveness in worship.