Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

नाभिवाद्याश्च विप्रेण क्षत्रियाद्याः कथंचन । नास्तिकं भिन्नमर्यादं कृतन्घं ग्रामयाजकम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

nābhivādyāśca vipreṇa kṣatriyādyāḥ kathaṃcana | nāstikaṃ bhinnamaryādaṃ kṛtanghaṃ grāmayājakam || 36 ||

Translation

A brāhmaṇa should not, under any circumstance, offer salutations as an inferior to a kṣatriya or to the other lower varṇas. Likewise, he should avoid the nāstika (denier of faith), one who breaks established norms, the ungrateful, and the village priest who performs rites for livelihood.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अभिवाद्याः: to be saluted (worthy of salutation)
• अभिवाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि√वद् (धातु) + य (प्रत्यय) → अभिवाद्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be saluted’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• विप्रेण: by a Brahmin
• विप्रेण: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent expressed instrumentally)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षत्रिय-आद्याः: Kshatriyas and others
• क्षत्रिय-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘क्षत्रियादयः’ (Kshatriyas and others)

• कथंचन: in any way (at all)
• कथंचन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/निषेध-समर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in any way/at all’)

• नास्तिकम्: an atheist
• नास्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिन्न-मर्यादम्: one who violates proper boundaries/conduct
• भिन्न-मर्यादम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः ‘भिन्ना मर्यादा यस्य’ (one whose bounds are broken)

• कृतघ्नम्: an ungrateful person
• कृतघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ग्राम-याजकम्: a village priest (one who officiates for a village)
• ग्राम-याजकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + याजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘ग्रामस्य याजकः’ (village priest)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

FAQs

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

It safeguards dharma by prescribing whom a brāhmaṇa should or should not honor or associate with, stressing that reverence and closeness should align with Vedic faith, gratitude, and disciplined conduct.

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

Bhakti flourishes in sāttvika company; the verse discourages association with nāstikas and those who break moral boundaries, since such company weakens śraddhā, purity, and steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It touches ritual propriety (kalpa/prayoga in practice): the warning about the grāmayājaka implies that rites should not be reduced to mere livelihood-driven performance, but done with śuddhi, śraddhā, and correct procedure.