Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

सार्द्रकस्सपालाश्च गोदण्डः परिकीर्त्तितः । गवां निपातने चैव गर्भोऽपि संभवेद्यदि ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

sārdrakassapālāśca godaṇḍaḥ parikīrttitaḥ | gavāṃ nipātane caiva garbho'pi saṃbhavedyadi || 40 ||

Translation

ભીનું લાકડું તથા પલાશ-લાકડું મળીને બનેલો દંડ ‘ગો-દંડ’ કહેવાયો છે. અને ગાયો/પશુને પાડી દેવા/મારવા સમયે જો ગર્ભપાત પણ થાય, તો તે પણ એ જ દોષમાં ગણાય છે.

Word by Word

• सार्द्रकः: with moisture/green (fresh)
• सार्द्रकः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्द्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (दण्डस्य विशेषण)

• सपालाः: with leaves
• सपालाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (समुच्चित-विशेषण)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोदण्डः: the cow-staff (prescribed staff)
• गोदण्डः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिकीर्तितः: is declared / is described
• परिकीर्तितः: क्रिया (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकृत् (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• निपातने: in (the act of) striking down
• निपातने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निपातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गर्भः: the fetus
• गर्भः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• संभवेत्: should occur / should happen
• संभवेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: हेतु/शर्त (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

Speaker

Nārada (in instructional narration within Purva-bhāga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma through accountability: even unintended or secondary harm caused while using a cattle-driving rod is treated as a serious fault, reinforcing ahiṃsā (non-violence) and careful conduct.

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

Bhakti is supported by ethical living; reverence for life—especially protection of cows—becomes a practical expression of devotion and purity of action expected of a Vaiṣṇava-oriented life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmaśāstra-style precision in defining implements (go-daṇḍa) and assessing culpability and consequences—useful for ritual-legal reasoning often discussed alongside Vedāṅga-informed conduct rules.