Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

वृद्धातुरस्त्रीबालानामर्द्धमुक्तं मनीषिभिः । गौडी पैष्टी च माध्वी च विज्ञेया त्रिविधा सुरा ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

vṛddhāturastrībālānāmarddhamuktaṃ manīṣibhiḥ | gauḍī paiṣṭī ca mādhvī ca vijñeyā trividhā surā || 23 ||

Translation

Pour les vieillards, les malades, les femmes et les enfants, les sages n’ont prescrit que la moitié (de la mesure ordinaire). Sache que la surā, l’alcool enivrant, est de trois sortes : gauḍī, à base de mélasse ; paiṣṭī, à base de grains ; et mādhvī, à base de miel.

Word by Word

• वृद्ध-आतुर-स्त्री-बालानाम्: of the old, the sick, women, and children
• वृद्ध-आतुर-स्त्री-बालानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व समास (वृद्धाश्च आतुराश्च स्त्रियश्च बालाश्च), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग मिश्रसमूहस्य षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अर्धम्: half
• अर्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here: प्रथमा)

• उक्तम्: is said/has been stated
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय

• मनीषिभिः: by the sages/wise ones
• मनीषिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गौडी: Gauḍī (a type of liquor)
• गौडी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सुरायाः नाम

• पैष्टी: Paiṣṭī (grain-based liquor)
• पैष्टी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैष्टी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सुरायाः नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• माध्वी: Mādhvī (honey-based liquor)
• माध्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सुरायाः नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• विज्ञेया: should be known/understood
• विज्ञेया: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• त्रिविधा: threefold
• त्रिविधा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (त्रयः विधाः यस्याः/त्रिविधा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुरा: liquor
• सुरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with 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 frames self-restraint (niyama) as a dharmic principle: even where a concession is mentioned, it is strictly measured, emphasizing control of the senses and avoidance of harm.

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

By stressing restraint and disciplined living, the verse supports bhakti indirectly: a steady mind and regulated habits are presented as conducive to sustained worship and remembrance, rather than indulgence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied dharma-śāstra style reasoning—classification and regulated measure—useful for ritual conduct (kalpa-oriented practice), especially in determining what is considered surā and how it is categorized.