Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

विवाहाश्चाष्टधा ज्ञेया ब्राह्माद्या मुनिसत्तम । पूर्वः पूर्वो वरो ज्ञेयः पूर्वाभावे परः परः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

vivāhāścāṣṭadhā jñeyā brāhmādyā munisattama | pūrvaḥ pūrvo varo jñeyaḥ pūrvābhāve paraḥ paraḥ || 15 ||

Translation

O best of sages, marriages are understood to be eightfold, beginning with the Brāhma form. Each earlier form is deemed superior; when the earlier is not possible, the next should be adopted in proper order.

Word by Word

• विवाहाः: marriages (types of marriage)
• विवाहाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अष्टधा: eightfold
• अष्टधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-प्रकारवाचक (in eight ways)

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known
• ज्ञेयाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative); भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive: ‘to be known’)

• ब्राह्माद्याः: beginning with the Brāhma (type)
• ब्राह्माद्याः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्माद्य (प्रातिपदिक) = ब्राह्म + आदि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘ब्राह्म-आदि’ (beginning with Brāhma); विशेषण (of विवाहाः)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: सम्बोधन (Vocative/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) = मुनि + सत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘best sage’)

• पूर्वः: the earlier/preceding
• पूर्वः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वरः)

• पूर्वः: the earlier (one)
• पूर्वः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

• वरः: choice/preference (the preferable one)
• वरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known (as preferable)
• ज्ञेयः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive: ‘to be known’)

• पूर्वाभावे: in the absence of the former
• पूर्वाभावे: अधिकरण (Locative condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाभाव (प्रातिपदिक) = पूर्व + अभाव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘absence of the former’)

• परः: the next
• परः: कर्ता (Subject, ellipsis)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (implied: वरः)

• परः: the next (one)
• परः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames marriage as a dharmic saṃskāra with graded ethical quality, urging one to choose the most sattvic and scripturally approved option available, and only then proceed to lesser alternatives when necessary.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by regulating gṛhastha life through dharma: a well-ordered, righteous marriage sustains purity of conduct, stability of vows, and a life conducive to worship and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style ritual classification (samskāra procedure and normative hierarchy). While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with Kalpa (ritual law) in organizing permissible social-ritual practices.