Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

एकरात्रं वसेद्ग्रामे त्रिरात्रं नगरे तथा । भैक्षेण वर्त्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादीभवेद्यतिः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

ekarātraṃ vasedgrāme trirātraṃ nagare tathā | bhaikṣeṇa varttayennityaṃ naikānnādībhavedyatiḥ || 95 ||

Translation

യതി ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ ഒരു രാത്രി മാത്രവും നഗരത്തിൽ മൂന്ന് രാത്രികൾ മാത്രവും താമസിക്കണം. നിത്യവും ഭിക്ഷയാൽ ജീവിക്കണം; ഒരൊറ്റ നിശ്ചിത വീട്ടിലെ അന്നമേ കഴിക്കുന്നവനാകരുത്।

Word by Word

• एक-रात्रम्: for one night
• एक-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (one-night duration)

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ग्रामे: in a village
• ग्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• त्रि-रात्रम्: for three nights
• त्रि-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (three-night duration)

• नगरे: in a town/city
• नगरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (likewise)

• भैक्षेण: by alms (begged food)
• भैक्षेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• वर्त्तयेत्: should sustain (himself)
• वर्त्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु) [causative/णिच्: वर्त्तय]
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: maintain oneself)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एक-अन्न-आदी: one who subsists on only one kind of food (habitually)
• एक-अन्न-आदी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘एकान्न’ = एकम् अन्नम् (single food/one kind of food) तत्पुरुष; ‘आदी’ = आदिन्-प्रातिपदिक (one who has as habit)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यतिः: ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching yati-dharma in the Narada Purana discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Yati

FAQs

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

It safeguards a renunciant’s detachment by limiting prolonged residence and preventing dependence on any single patron, keeping the mind free for spiritual pursuit.

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

By prescribing simplicity and non-dependence, it removes social entanglements and sense-gratification—conditions favorable for steady remembrance of the Lord and devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is primarily dharma-śāstra conduct rather than a Vedanga; practically, it teaches disciplined daily practice (nityam) and regulated livelihood (bhaikṣa) as part of ascetic observance.