Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

गर्भैकादशमेऽब्दे तु राजन्यस्योपनायनम् । आद्वाविंशाब्दपर्यंतं कालमाहुर्विपश्चितः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

garbhaikādaśame'bde tu rājanyasyopanāyanam | ādvāviṃśābdaparyaṃtaṃ kālamāhurvipaścitaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Pour un kṣatriya (rājanya), l’upanayana (initiation à l’étude védique) est prescrit la onzième année comptée depuis la conception; les savants déclarent que la période permise s’étend jusqu’à la vingt-deuxième année.

Word by Word

• गर्भैकादशमे: in the eleventh (year) from conception
• गर्भैकादशमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ-एकादशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; गर्भात् एकादशमः इति पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (eleventh from conception) (अब्दे इति अध्याहृतम्)

• अब्दे: in the year (of age)
• अब्दे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• राजन्यस्य: of the kṣatriya (rājanya)
• राजन्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive)

• उपनायनम्: initiation (upanayana)
• उपनायनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied with आहुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-नाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आद्वाविंशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: up to twenty-two years
• आद्वाविंशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: अवधि (Avadhi/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-द्वा-विṃश-अब्द-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial limit: up to twenty-two years)

• कालम्: time/period
• कालम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they say)

• विपश्चितः: the learned (sages)
• विपश्चितः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (subject)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma/saṃskāra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames upanayana as a dharmic threshold into disciplined Vedic learning, emphasizing that spiritual education should begin within a proper life-stage window defined by śāstra.

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

Indirectly: by establishing eligibility and timing for Vedic training, it supports the foundation—self-discipline, mantra practice, and right conduct—through which devotion and worship mature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure is implied: the verse gives a technical rule for the samskāra calendar (age computation from conception and the upper limit for performing upanayana).