Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

लिंगे मृदेका दातव्या तिस्रो वा मेढ्रयोर्द्वयोः । एतन्मूत्रमुत्सर्गे शौचमाहूर्मनीषिणः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

liṃge mṛdekā dātavyā tisro vā meḍhrayordvayoḥ | etanmūtramutsarge śaucamāhūrmanīṣiṇaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

For cleansing the genital organ, one should apply one portion of earth, or else three portions for the two testicles. Such is the śauca prescribed by the wise after the discharge of urine.

Word by Word

• liṅge: on the genital organ
• liṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• mṛd: clay (a lump/application)
• mṛd: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; subject with implied ‘(portion of) clay’

• ekā: one
• ekā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with mṛd

• dātavyā: should be applied/given
• dātavyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (दा धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्) → dātavya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘is to be applied/given’

• tisraḥ: three
• tisraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; alternative count (with mṛd implied)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

• meḍhrayoḥ: of the two testicles
• meḍhrayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meḍhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (or Masculine by usage), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• dvayoḥ: of the two
• dvayoḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Dual; numeral qualifier of meḍhrayoḥ (pleonastic emphasis)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun qualifying mūtram

• mūtram: urination/urine
• mūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• utsarge: at the time of discharge (urination)
• utsarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• śaucam: purification
• śaucam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of āhuḥ

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/आह् धातु ‘to say’)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• manīṣiṇaḥ: the wise
• manīṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and śauca)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It frames bodily cleanliness (śauca) as a dharmic discipline: purity after natural functions supports steadiness in worship, mantra, and daily nitya-karmas.

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

By prescribing practical purity, it safeguards the devotee’s readiness for devotional acts—japa, pūjā, and remembrance—showing that bhakti is supported by orderly daily conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure within dharma-śāstra style śauca-vidhi (practical rules of purification), a key applied aspect of Vedic conduct supporting correct performance of rites.