Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

वेदग्रहणपर्यंतं निवसेद्गुरुवेश्मनि । प्रातः स्नायी भवेद्वर्णी समित्कुशफलादिकान् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vedagrahaṇaparyaṃtaṃ nivasedguruveśmani | prātaḥ snāyī bhavedvarṇī samitkuśaphalādikān || 22 ||

Translation

Jusqu’à la pleine maîtrise des Veda, l’étudiant doit demeurer dans la maison du maître. Le brahmacārin se baignera à l’aube et procurera bois de feu, herbe kuśa, fruits et autres nécessités (pour le guru et les rites).

Word by Word

• वेद-ग्रहण-पर्यन्तम्: until the completion of Veda-study
• वेद-ग्रहण-पर्यन्तम्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय, काल/अवधि-निर्देश (temporal limit)

• निवसेत्: should reside
• निवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + नि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरु-वेश्मनि: in the teacher’s house
• गुरु-वेश्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्नायी: bathing (regularly)
• स्नायी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + इन्-प्रत्यय → स्नायिन् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who bathes’

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्णी: the student (brahmacārin)
• वर्णी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; brahmacārin/student

• समित्-कुश-फल-आदिकान्: fuel-sticks, kuśa grass, fruits, etc.
• समित्-कुश-फल-आदिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/सूची-तत्पुरुष (enumerative); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘fuel-sticks, kuśa, fruits, etc.’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It presents brahmacarya as a disciplined, service-based path: living with the guru until Vedic learning is complete, and purifying oneself daily through dawn-bathing and humble seva that supports sacred study and ritual order.

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

Though not naming a deity here, it frames devotion as obedient service (guru-sevā) and purity of conduct—foundational attitudes that mature into bhakti through reverence, self-restraint, and dedicated practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to practical ritual discipline connected with Kalpa (ritual procedure): collecting samit and kuśa used in rites, and maintaining daily purity (snāna) as a prerequisite for Vedic study and ceremonial acts.