Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

पाशुपाल्यं च वाणिज्यं कृंषिश्च द्विजसत्तम । वेदस्याध्ययनं चैव वैश्यस्यापि प्रकीर्त्तितम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

pāśupālyaṃ ca vāṇijyaṃ kṛṃṣiśca dvijasattama | vedasyādhyayanaṃ caiva vaiśyasyāpi prakīrttitam || 25 ||

Translation

Ô meilleur des deux-fois-nés, l’élevage du bétail, le commerce et l’agriculture sont déclarés comme devoirs ; et l’étude du Veda est aussi prescrite au vaiśya.

Word by Word

• पाशुपाल्यम्: cattle-rearing
• पाशुपाल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशु + पाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पशूनां पालनम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• वाणिज्यम्: trade/commerce
• वाणिज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृषिः: agriculture
• कृषिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• द्विजसत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (द्विजः सत्तमः)

• वेदस्य: of the Veda
• वेदस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अध्ययनम्: study/recitation
• अध्ययनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• वैश्यस्य: of the Vaiśya
• वैश्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is declared/has been stated
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्रकीर्तितम्’ = उक्तम्/निर्दिष्टम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames livelihood (artha) as dharma when aligned with one’s varna-duty, and adds that Vedic study is not excluded from the Vaiśya—spiritual discipline accompanies worldly work.

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

Indirectly: by grounding daily work in dharma and Vedic learning, it supports a life where duties become offerings—an essential foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti in the Narada Purana’s broader teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse explicitly highlights Veda-adhyayana (Vedic study/recitation); by implication this relies on Vedanga supports like Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for correct learning.