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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

दत्ताक्षतायाः कन्यायाः पुनर्दानं वराय च । नैष्टिकं ब्रह्मचर्यं च नरमेधाश्चमेधकौ ॥ १५ ॥

dattākṣatāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ punardānaṃ varāya ca | naiṣṭikaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca naramedhāścamedhakau || 15 ||

Redonner en mariage une jeune fille déjà donnée officiellement (par le rite de l’akṣata), et la donner de nouveau à un autre époux; de même le vœu rigide de brahmacarya à vie; et les sacrifices nommés naramedha et medha — en ce contexte, tout cela est énuméré comme de graves fautes, dignes de réprobation.

दत्त-अक्षतायाःof the (girl) whose ‘akṣata’ has been given (betrothed)
दत्त-अक्षतायाः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootदत्त (कृदन्त; √दा दाने) + अक्षता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दत्ता च सा अक्षता)
कन्यायाःof a maiden
कन्यायाः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootकन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb)
दानम्giving (in marriage)
दानम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन
वरायto a bridegroom
वराय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
नैष्टिकम्perpetual/strict (lifelong)
नैष्टिकम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनैष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्मचर्यस्य)
ब्रह्मचर्यम्celibate studentship
ब्रह्मचर्यम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
नरमेधाःhuman-sacrifices
नरमेधाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनरमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नरस्य मेधः)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
मेधकौtwo kinds of ‘medhaka’ sacrifices
मेधकौ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमेधक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन

Sanatkumara (in dialogue addressing Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

N
Narada
S
Sanatkumara

FAQs

It underscores that Dharma is not merely ritual performance but moral order—certain acts (especially those harming social and ethical foundations) are explicitly censured, even if framed as ‘rites’.

By implying that devotion must rest on righteous conduct: Bhakti to Vishnu is not compatible with cruel, deceptive, or socially disruptive actions presented as religious.

It touches ritual propriety and dharma-vidhi (rules of rites), including marriage-saṃskāra markers like akṣata; this aligns with kalpa-type practical regulation of ceremonies.