Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

श्यशानदेशे विप्रेंद्र सिद्ध्यंत्यस्य पिशाचकाः । अश्मपातप्रहाराद्यैर्जीयादाभिर्द्विषश्चिरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śyaśānadeśe vipreṃdra siddhyaṃtyasya piśācakāḥ | aśmapātaprahārādyairjīyādābhirdviṣaściram || 41 ||

Translation

Ô le meilleur des brāhmaṇas, dans le lieu de crémation les piśācas (esprits funèbres) deviennent soumis à lui. Par de tels moyens — chutes de pierres, coups violents et autres — ses ennemis sont tourmentés longtemps.

Word by Word

• श्मशान-देशे: in a cremation-ground place
• श्मशान-देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्र-इन्द्र: O best of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिद्ध्यन्ति: they become accomplished / are attained
• सिद्ध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अस्य: of him/this (practitioner)
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिशाचकाः: piśācas, goblin-spirits
• पिशाचकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अश्म-पात-प्रहार-आद्यैः: by stone-falls, blows, and the like
• अश्म-पात-प्रहार-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); 'आदि' = etc.

• जियात्: he should conquer
• जियात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• आभिः: by these (means)
• आभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्विषः: enemies
• द्विषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Piśācas
• Śmaśāna (cremation-ground)

FAQs

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

It warns that certain mantra-rites pursued in impure places like cremation-grounds can yield “siddhi” through lower spirits, producing harmful, fear-based results rather than sattvic spiritual uplift.

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

By contrast: the verse highlights coercive, hostile outcomes (afflicting enemies) associated with tamasic rites, implicitly steering the seeker away from such aims and toward Vishnu-bhakti, which seeks purification and liberation rather than injury.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical-ritual outlook (prayoga) about place (deśa) and effects (phala) of rites—knowledge adjacent to kalpa (ritual procedure) and mantra-prayoga traditions discussed in Vedanga-oriented sections.