Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

आर्द्रास्थि च तथोच्छिष्टं शूद्रं च पतितं तथा । सर्पं च भषणं स्पृष्ट्वा सचैलं स्नानमाचरेत् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ārdrāsthi ca tathocchiṣṭaṃ śūdraṃ ca patitaṃ tathā | sarpaṃ ca bhaṣaṇaṃ spṛṣṭvā sacailaṃ snānamācaret || 30 ||

Translation

Après avoir touché un os humide, des restes de nourriture, un Śūdra, un déchu (hors caste), un serpent ou un bijou, qu’on accomplisse un bain de purification en gardant ses vêtements, afin de rétablir la pureté rituelle.

Word by Word

• ārdrāsthi: a wet bone
• ārdrāsthi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārdra (प्रातिपदिक) + asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (wet + bone)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (thus/also)

• ucchiṣṭam: leftover/impure remnants
• ucchiṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ucchiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• śūdram: a Śūdra
• śūdram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• patitam: a fallen person (outcaste)
• patitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• sarpam: a snake
• sarpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• bhaṣaṇam: an ornament (as read)
• bhaṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/अर्थ: ‘भषण’ = ornament/decoration; some traditions read ‘भस्म’ etc.)

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched
• spṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛś (स्पृश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having touched’

• sa-cailam: with clothes on
• sa-cailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + caila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सह + चैल = with clothes)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (आ + चर् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and śauca)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) as a support for dharma: after certain contacts considered ritually contaminating, one restores steadiness for worship, japa, and daily rites through prescribed bathing.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it safeguards devotional practice by prescribing purification so that pūjā, mantra, and remembrance of the Divine are performed in a ritually fit state.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies a concrete prayoga—sacaila-snana—as a remedial rite (śuddhi) after particular forms of contact impurity.