Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

एतत्कालावधेर्यस्य द्विजस्यातिक्रमो भवेत् । सावित्रीपतितं विद्यात्तं तु नैवालपेत्कदा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

etatkālāvadheryasya dvijasyātikramo bhavet | sāvitrīpatitaṃ vidyāttaṃ tu naivālapetkadā || 14 ||

Translation

നിശ്ചിത കാലപരിധി കടന്ന് സാവിത്രീവിധി അനുഷ്ഠിക്കാത്ത ദ്വിജനെ ‘സാവിത്രീപതിതൻ’ എന്നു അറിയണം; അവനോട് ഒരിക്കലും സംഭാഷണമോ സഹവാസമോ ചെയ്യരുത്।

Word by Word

• एतत्: of this
• एतत्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally with ‘कालावधेः’

• कालावधेः: of the time-limit
• कालावधेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कालस्य अवधि: time-limit)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• द्विजस्य: of a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अतिक्रमः: transgression/overstepping
• अतिक्रमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should occur/be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सावित्रीपतितम्: one fallen from the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī initiation)
• सावित्रीपतितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री + पतित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सावित्र्याः पतितम्: fallen from/with respect to Sāvitrī)

• विद्यात्: should know/should deem
• विद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), adversative/emphatic

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: certainly/at all
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• आलपेत्: should speak to/address
• आलपेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आलप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कदा: ever/at any time
• कदा: कालाधिकरण (Adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb of time) used with negation = ‘ever’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-śāstra style passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Savitri (Gayatri)

FAQs

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

It stresses that a dvija’s spiritual identity is sustained by fidelity to Savitrī (Gayatrī and its Vedic obligations); neglect beyond the allowed time is treated as a serious fall from Vedic discipline.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined daily practice: reverence for mantra and samskāra-based duties becomes the foundation for steady worship and later Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and timing (kāla/niyama) are emphasized—key concerns of kalpa (ritual discipline) and śikṣā (mantra recitation discipline) in maintaining Savitrī practice.