Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

यस्तु संध्यादिकर्माणि कूटयुक्तिविशारदः । परित्यजति तं विद्यान्महापातकिनां वरम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

yastu saṃdhyādikarmāṇi kūṭayuktiviśāradaḥ | parityajati taṃ vidyānmahāpātakināṃ varam || 68 ||

Translation

കപടയുക്തിയിൽ നിപുണനായിട്ടും സന്ധ്യാദി നിത്യകർമ്മങ്ങൾ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നവനെ മഹാപാതകികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനെന്നു അറിയണം।

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थ-भेदक (particle: but/indeed)

• संध्या-आदि-कर्माणि: the rites beginning with the twilight-prayers (sandhyā)
• संध्या-आदि-कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-शब्देन सह: ‘संध्यादीनि कर्माणि’)

• कूट-युक्ति-विशारदः: skilled in deceitful reasoning
• कूट-युक्ति-विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूट (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘कूटयुक्तिषु विशारदः’ = skilled in crooked arguments)

• परित्यजति: abandons
• परित्यजति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; क्रिया

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

• विद्यात्: should know (consider)
• विद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आज्ञा/विधानार्थ (‘one should know’)

• महापातकिनाम्: of great sinners
• महापातकिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् पातकी = great sinner)

• वरम्: the foremost
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठम्’ अर्थे

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadesha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting obligatory daily disciplines like Sandhyā is not a minor lapse but a serious spiritual fall, especially when justified through clever, misleading arguments.

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

It implies that genuine devotion is supported by integrity and steadiness in prescribed duties; abandoning foundational practices through rationalization undermines sincerity and inner purity needed for bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice of nitya-karmas) is emphasized, along with discernment against sophistry—using reasoning to evade śāstric injunctions.