Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Description of the Index/Summary of the Garuḍa

Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मध्यषोडशकश्राद्धं स्वर्गप्राप्तिक्रियोहनम् । सूतकस्याथ संख्यांनं नारायणबलिक्रिया ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

madhyaṣoḍaśakaśrāddhaṃ svargaprāptikriyohanam | sūtakasyātha saṃkhyāṃnaṃ nārāyaṇabalikriyā || 28 ||

Translation

Il enseigne aussi les śrāddha du « milieu des seize » (madhya-ṣoḍaśaka), les procédures rituelles menant à l’obtention du ciel, le décompte des jours de sūtaka (impureté rituelle) et l’accomplissement du rite Nārāyaṇa-bali.

Word by Word

• madhya-ṣoḍaśaka-śrāddham: the middle sixteen-day śrāddha
• madhya-ṣoḍaśaka-śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣoḍaśaka (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'the śrāddha of the middle sixteen (days)'

• svarga-prāpti-kriyā-ohanam: the rite leading to attainment of heaven
• svarga-prāpti-kriyā-ohanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + prāpti (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ohana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'means/bringing about (ohanam) the rite (kriyā) for attaining (prāpti) heaven (svarga)'

• sūtakasyātha: then, of the impurity period (sūtaka)
• sūtakasyātha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive) + Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sūtaka (प्रातिपदिक) + atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sandhi form: sūtakasyātha = sūtakasya (Puṃ/Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana) + atha (Avyaya, discourse particle 'then/now'); treated as two padas

• sūtakasyātha: —
• sūtakasyātha: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: (see previous row)
• Form: This token contains two words; for strict pada-splitting read: sūtakasyā (sūtakasya) + atha

• saṃkhyānam: enumeration, explanation
• saṃkhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana

• nārāyaṇa-bali-kriyā: the Nārāyaṇa-bali rite
• nārāyaṇa-bali-kriyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bali (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'rite (kriyā) of the offering (bali) to Nārāyaṇa'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narayaṇa

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (catalogue) line, signaling that the text covers precise śrāddha and purity disciplines—ritual supports for pitṛ-satisfaction, orderly dharma, and meritorious results such as svarga.

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

By naming Nārāyaṇa-bali, it links ancestral/expiratory rites to Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu) as the sanctifying center—showing that even karma-kāṇḍa procedures are ideally performed with remembrance and offering to Nārāyaṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual computation and procedure are emphasized: saṃkhyāna (counting) of sūtaka days and ūhana (proper arrangement/adaptation) of rites—core applied knowledge within kalpa/śrauta-smārta ritual practice.