Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

हस्तौ कृत्वा तु संयुक्तौ पूरचित्वा जलेन च । गोश्रृङ्गमात्रमुद्धृत्य जलमध्ये विनिः क्षिपेत् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

hastau kṛtvā tu saṃyuktau pūracitvā jalena ca | gośrṛṅgamātramuddhṛtya jalamadhye viniḥ kṣipet || 88 ||

Translation

両手を合わせて水を満たし、牛の角に入るほどの量だけをすくい上げ、その水を再び水の中央へと投げ入れるべきである。

Word by Word

• हस्तौ: two hands
• हस्तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done/made’

• तु: but/then
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रमसूचक

• संयुक्तौ: joined together
• संयुक्तौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘हस्तौ’)

• पूरचित्वा: having filled
• पूरचित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् + चि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having filled/collected’ (पूरयित्वा/पूरचित्वा)

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• गो-शृङ्ग-मात्रम्: (water) of the measure of a cow’s horn
• गो-शृङ्ग-मात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘गोशृङ्गस्य मात्रम्’ = measure of a cow’s horn)

• उद्धृत्य: having drawn up
• उद्धृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having lifted/drawn up’

• जल-मध्ये: in the middle of the water
• जल-मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, Locative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (‘जले मध्ये’ = in the middle of water)

• विनिः: out/away
• विनिः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विनिः (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix-like particle), ‘apart/away/out’ (emphatic with verb)

• क्षिपेत्: should throw/cast
• क्षिपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise, disciplined water-action (drawing a measured amount and returning it to the water), emphasizing ritual purity (śauca), restraint, and correctness in observances performed in or near water.

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

Though procedural, it supports bhakti by teaching careful execution of sacred acts—devotion in the Narada Purana is not only feeling but also reverent, rule-guided practice that purifies the devotee’s conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it uses a defined ritual measure (gośṛṅga-mātra) and a specific hand-gesture/action sequence, reflecting the technical precision expected in Vedic-style rites.