Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Description of the Index/Summary of the Garuḍa

Purāṇa

Devanagari script

नित्यश्राद्धं सर्पिडाख्यं धर्मसारोऽघनिष्कृतिः । प्रतिसंक्रम उक्ताः स्म युगधर्माः कृतेः फलम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

nityaśrāddhaṃ sarpiḍākhyaṃ dharmasāro'ghaniṣkṛtiḥ | pratisaṃkrama uktāḥ sma yugadharmāḥ kṛteḥ phalam || 17 ||

Translation

Le śrāddha quotidien, le rite nommé Sarpiḍā, l’essence du dharma et l’expiation des fautes ; ainsi que les observances à accomplir à chaque saṅkrānti (transition solaire) : ces yuga-dharmas, avec les fruits propres au Kṛta Yuga, ont été énoncés.

Word by Word

• नित्यश्राद्धम्: daily śrāddha
• नित्यश्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नित्यं श्राद्धम्)

• सर्पिडाख्यम्: named ‘Sarpiḍā’
• सर्पिडाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्पिडा + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (सर्पिडा-आख्यम् = 'called Sarpiḍā')

• धर्मसारः: essence of dharma
• धर्मसारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य सारः)

• अघनिष्कृतिः: expiation of sin
• अघनिष्कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ + निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अघस्य निष्कृतिः)

• प्रतिसंक्रमः: (rite/topic) ‘Pratisaṃkrama’
• प्रतिसंक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिसंक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (विषय-शीर्षक/ritual heading)

• उक्ताः: have been stated
• उक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'have been stated'

• स्म: indeed/it is said
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-प्रयोगः (particle indicating recollection/emphasis; often with past narration)

• युगधर्माः: duties of the age
• युगधर्माः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (युगस्य धर्माः)

• कृतेः: of the Kṛta age
• कृतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'of Kṛta(-yuga)'

• फलम्: result/fruit
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय/समापन-पदम्

Speaker

Narada (in an enumerative/summary mode within the Anukramanika context, addressing the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saṅkrānti-vrata/observances (general)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It frames everyday ancestral duty (nitya-śrāddha), periodic sacred timing (saṅkrānti), and sin-expulsion (agha-niṣkṛti) as core elements of dharma, presenting them as part of the Purāṇic summary of age-appropriate religious practice.

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

While not naming a deity directly, it supports bhakti through dharmic discipline: regular śrāddha and time-based observances cultivate purity, gratitude, and steadiness—foundational qualities that sustain devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kāla-nirṇaya (time-determination) is implied through saṅkrānti-based observances, aligning ritual action with calendrical/astronomical transitions—an applied aspect connected to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy).