Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

उर्द्धपुंड्रं च तुलसीं श्राद्धे नेच्छंति केचन । वृथाचारः परित्याज्यस्तस्माच्छ्रेयोऽर्थिभिर्द्विजैः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

urddhapuṃḍraṃ ca tulasīṃ śrāddhe necchaṃti kecana | vṛthācāraḥ parityājyastasmācchreyo'rthibhirdvijaiḥ || 44 ||

Translation

Some do not approve the wearing of the ūrdhva-puṇḍra (the Vaiṣṇava forehead mark) and the use of tulasī in the śrāddha rites. Therefore, brāhmaṇas who seek the highest good should abandon such futile, baseless customs.

Word by Word

• उर्द्धपुण्ड्रम्: the vertical tilaka mark
• उर्द्धपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (ऊर्ध्वः पुण्ड्रः)

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

• तुलसीम्: Tulasi (holy basil)
• तुलसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• इच्छन्ति: desire / wish
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• केचन: some (people)
• केचन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क + चन (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite: 'some')

• वृथाचारः: vain/meaningless practice
• वृथाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृथा + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वृथा-आचारः = व्यर्थ-आचारः)

• परित्याज्यः: to be abandoned
• परित्याज्यः: Vidhi (विधि/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु) → परित्याज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्), विधेय-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः: 'त्यक्तव्यः' (to be abandoned)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभूत-प्रयोग (ablatival adverb): 'therefore/from that'

• श्रेयः: the better (good)
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्थिभिः: by seekers (of good)
• अर्थिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन

• द्विजैः: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada Purana dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Tulasī
• Ūrdhva-puṇḍra
• Śrāddha
• Dvija

FAQs

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

It teaches that authentic dharma and devotion to Viṣṇu should not be overridden by mere social prejudice; practices rooted in bhakti (like ūrdhva-puṇḍra and tulasī) are upheld, while baseless customs are to be rejected.

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

By affirming tulasī and the Vaiṣṇava tilaka even in śrāddha contexts, it emphasizes visible and practical devotion to Viṣṇu as compatible with—and elevating to—ritual duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra-style discernment: distinguishing valid injunction-based practice from vṛthācāra (unsupported custom) in śrāddha performance.