Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

अघमर्षणसूक्तं वा शुद्ध्येदन्तर्जले जपन् । रजकश्चर्मकारश्च नटो बुरुड एव च ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

aghamarṣaṇasūktaṃ vā śuddhyedantarjale japan | rajakaścarmakāraśca naṭo buruḍa eva ca || 31 ||

Translation

Atau, dengan melantunkan Aghamarṣaṇa Sūkta sambil berdiri di dalam air, seseorang menjadi suci—bahkan seorang pencuci pakaian, penyamak kulit, penari/aktor, dan juga buruḍa.

Word by Word

• aghamarṣaṇasūktam: the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn
• aghamarṣaṇasūktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agha-marṣaṇa-sūkta (प्रातिपदिक; agha + marṣaṇa + sūkta)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• śuddhyet: should be purified
• śuddhyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śudh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्/Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• antarjale: in water (while immersed/within water)
• antarjale: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar-jala (प्रातिपदिक; antar + jala)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with antar (indeclinable)

• japan: reciting
• japan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying implied subject

• rajakaḥ: washerman
• rajakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• carmakāraḥ: leather-worker
• carmakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carmakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• naṭaḥ: actor/dancer
• naṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• buruḍaḥ: Buruḍa (a community/caste name)
• buruḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buruḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); rare जातिनाम

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Aghamarshana Sukta

FAQs

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

It teaches that Vedic mantra-japa—specifically the Aghamarṣaṇa Sūkta—performed with the discipline of water-immersion is a powerful means of removing impurity and moral taint, emphasizing the universality of purification through sacred sound.

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

While framed as ritual purification, it supports bhakti by preparing the practitioner for worship: cleansing (śauca) and mantra-recitation steady the mind and make one fit for sustained devotion and worship of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga (practical application of Vedic hymns) and japa-vidhi—how recitation is paired with a ritual setting (antarjale, in water) as a formal method of śuddhi (purification).