Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

अभ्यक्तशिरसं चैव जपन्तं नाभिवादयेत् । विवादशीलिनं चंडं वमंतं जलमध्यगम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

abhyaktaśirasaṃ caiva japantaṃ nābhivādayet | vivādaśīlinaṃ caṃḍaṃ vamaṃtaṃ jalamadhyagam || 39 ||

Translation

One should not offer salutations to one whose head is anointed with oil, nor to one engaged in japa. Nor should one salute a quarrelsome and violent person, one who is vomiting, or one who is standing in the midst of water.

Word by Word

• अभ्यक्त-शिरसम्: one whose head is anointed/oiled
• अभ्यक्त-शिरसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यक्त (कृदन्त/ppp of √अञ्ज्) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जपन्तम्: one who is muttering/reciting (japa)
• जपन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object-qualifier)

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

• अभिवादयेत्: should salute/greet
• अभिवादयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+√वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विवाद-शीलिनम्: one inclined to quarrel
• विवाद-शीलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक) + शीलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विवादे शीलः)

• चण्डम्: fierce/violent (person)
• चण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वमन्तम्: one who is vomiting
• वमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जल-मध्य-गम्: one who is in the middle of water
• जल-मध्य-गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक from √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जले मध्यं गतः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It safeguards the sanctity of ritual states—japa, purification, and bodily vulnerability—by prescribing when social greetings should be withheld so that dharma and inner focus are not disturbed.

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

By instructing that one should not interrupt japa, it protects the continuity of remembrance (smaraṇa) and repetition of the Divine Name—an essential discipline supporting steady bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual discipline (ācāra/śauca) used in Vedic practice—maintaining proper timing and context for actions so that mantra-japa and observances are not disrupted.