Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

एतैर्वर्णैः सर्वधर्माः कार्या वर्णानुरुपतः । स्ववर्णधर्मत्यागेन पाषंडः प्रोच्यते बुधैः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

etairvarṇaiḥ sarvadharmāḥ kāryā varṇānurupataḥ | svavarṇadharmatyāgena pāṣaṃḍaḥ procyate budhaiḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Selon ces varṇa, tous les devoirs doivent être accomplis d’une manière conforme à son propre varṇa. Celui qui abandonne le dharma de son varṇa est déclaré par les sages pāṣaṇḍa (déviant/hétérodoxe).

Word by Word

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally (एतैः = by these)

• वर्णैः: by the varṇas/classes
• वर्णैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वधर्माः: all duties
• सर्वधर्माः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + धर्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वे धर्माः)

• कार्याः: are to be performed
• कार्याः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, विधेय/कर्तव्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तव्यतार्थक-भूतपूर्व/भाव्यत् (gerundive) ‘to be done’

• वर्णानुरूपतः: according to (one’s) varṇa
• वर्णानुरूपतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्ण-अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण + अनुरूप)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त) ‘-तः’ = adverbial ‘according to’; अव्ययीभावः (वर्णानुरूप + तः)

• स्ववर्णधर्मत्यागेन: by abandoning one’s own varṇa-duty
• स्ववर्णधर्मत्यागेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-वर्ण-धर्म-त्याग (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + वर्ण + धर्म + त्याग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्ववर्णस्य धर्मस्य त्यागः) + तृतीया ‘by/through abandoning’

• पाषण्डः: a heretic/renegade
• पाषण्डः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is called/declared
• प्रोच्यते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes svadharma—spiritual stability comes from performing one’s rightful duties in harmony with one’s station and discipline, rather than rejecting dharma out of impulse or ideology.

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

It frames devotion as lived practice: bhakti is strengthened when daily conduct aligns with dharma; abandoning ordained responsibilities is portrayed as a deviation rather than a higher spirituality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to dharma as applied discipline (ācāra) grounded in Vedic tradition—practically aligning one’s rituals, vows, and conduct with prescribed norms rather than inventing non-Vaidika alternatives.