Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

संस्पृष्टे रश्मिभिस्तेषामुदकस्नानमाचरेत् । याश्चान्तर्जलवल्मीकमूषिकोषरवर्त्मसु ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

saṃspṛṣṭe raśmibhisteṣāmudakasnānamācaret | yāścāntarjalavalmīkamūṣikoṣaravartmasu || 63 ||

Translation

അവ (ജലങ്ങൾ) സൂര്യകിരണങ്ങളാൽ സ്പർശിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ ജലസ്നാനം ആചരിക്കണം. അതുപോലെ അന്തർജലധാരകളിലെ വഴികളിൽ—ചിതൽക്കൂമ്പാരം, എലിക്കുഴി, ഉപ്പുനിലങ്ങൾ, പാതകളുടെ വഴിത്താരകൾ—ഇവിടെയുള്ള ജലത്തിലും ഇതേ വിധിയാണ്.

Word by Word

• संस्पृष्टे: when/after (it is) touched
• संस्पृष्टे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्पृष्ट (कृदन्त; √स्पृश् धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘touched/come into contact’

• रश्मिभिः: by rays
• रश्मिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• उदकस्नानम्: water-bath (bathing with water)
• उदकस्नानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उदकस्य स्नानम्)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु) उपसर्गः आ-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• याः: which (those)
• याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धसूचक-सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun)

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

• अन्तर्जलवल्मीकमूषिकोषरवर्त्मसु: in inner waters, anthills, mouse-holes, saline tracts, and paths
• अन्तर्जलवल्मीकमूषिकोषरवर्त्मसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् + जल + वल्मीक + मूषिक + ओषर + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/समुच्चय-द्वन्द्वः (enumerative compound) — ‘in/among: inside-water, anthills, mouse-holes, saline ground, paths’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity): when conditions affecting purity occur—symbolized by exposure/contact—one should restore cleanliness through udaka-snāna (water-bath), aligning bodily conduct with dharmic discipline.

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

While primarily a dharma/ritual instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by prescribing purity practices that traditionally prepare a devotee for worship, japa, and temple or home pūjā with a clean body and mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vaidika-ācāra (ritual procedure) and śauca norms—practical conduct-rules that govern when bathing is required to maintain eligibility for rites and recitation.