Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मयज्ञविहीनश्च ब्रह्महा परिकीर्तितः । देवताभ्यर्च्चनं कुर्याच्छुश्रूषानुपदं गुरोः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

brahmayajñavihīnaśca brahmahā parikīrtitaḥ | devatābhyarccanaṃ kuryācchuśrūṣānupadaṃ guroḥ || 28 ||

Translation

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಯಜ್ಞವಿಲ್ಲದವನು ‘ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಹಾ’ ಎಂದು ಕೀರ್ತಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ದೇವತೆಗಳ ಅರ್ಚನೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಗುರುವಿಗೆ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಶ್ರುಶ್ರೂಷೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಬೇಕು॥೨೮॥

Word by Word

• brahma-yajña-vihīnaḥ: one devoid of Brahma-yajña
• brahma-yajña-vihīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + vihīna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; vi-√hā)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; तत्पुरुषः: brahmayajñena vihīnaḥ (devoid of Brahma-yajña)

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

• brahma-hā: Brahmin-slayer
• brahma-hā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; तत्पुरुषः: brahmaṇaḥ hantā (slayer of a Brahmin)

• parikīrtitaḥ: is proclaimed/called
• parikīrtitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रियापूरक/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikīrtita (कृदन्त; pari-√kīrt धातु)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; past passive participle

• devatā-abhyarcanam: worship of deities
• devatā-abhyarcanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyarcana (प्रातिपदिक; abhi-√arc)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter; तत्पुरुषः: devatānām abhyarcanam (worship of deities)

• kuryāt: should do/perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्; optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śuśrūṣām: service/attendance
• śuśrūṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine

• anupadam: constantly/closely
• anupadam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverb ‘step by step/constantly/closely’

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Dharma-instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Devatāḥ (the deities)
• Brahma-yajña

FAQs

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

It equates neglect of Brahma-yajña (daily Vedic study/recitation and preservation of sacred knowledge) with a grave spiritual fault, and prescribes deva-pūjā and steady guru-sevā as essential disciplines for sustaining dharma.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined worship (devatābhyarcana) coupled with humility and obedience toward the guru; devotion is not merely emotion but a regular practice that honors both the divine and the living channel of instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds nitya-karma centered on Brahma-yajña—recitation/study that relies on correct śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (grammar) to preserve Vedic sound and meaning, reinforced through guidance and service to the guru.