Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

एतच्छौचं विडुत्सर्गे गंधलेपापनुत्तये । एतच्छौचं गृहस्थस्य द्विगुणं ब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

etacchaucaṃ viḍutsarge gaṃdhalepāpanuttaye | etacchaucaṃ gṛhasthasya dviguṇaṃ brahmacāriṇām || 14 ||

Translation

Telle est la règle de pureté après l’évacuation des excréments, afin d’ôter la mauvaise odeur et l’impureté qui s’attache. Cette mesure vaut pour le maître de maison ; pour les brahmacārins (étudiants célibataires), elle doit être observée au double.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• śaucam: purification/cleansing
• śaucam: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṭ-utsarge: in defecation
• viṭ-utsarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘excretion of feces’

• gandha-lepa-apanuttaye: for removing odor and smear
• gandha-lepa-apanuttaye: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + lepa (प्रातिपदिक) + apanutti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); purpose (प्रयोजन) compound: ‘for removal of smell and smear’

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaucam: cleansing (measure)
• śaucam: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛhasthasya: of a householder
• gṛhasthasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dviguṇam: twofold/double
• dviguṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dviguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• brahmacāriṇām: of brahmacārins (students)
• brahmacāriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dharma/ācāra section)

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 frames bodily cleanliness (śauca) as a dharmic discipline: removing odor and physical impurity supports inner purity, self-control, and fitness for japa, pūjā, and study.

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

By insisting on śauca as a prerequisite for worship, it supports bhakti indirectly: a clean, disciplined body-mind becomes a proper vessel for steady remembrance of Bhagavān during daily rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/ācāra (ritual conduct and rules of purity): practical standards for post-evacuation cleanliness, with stricter observance prescribed for brahmacārins.