Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तीर्थान्यनुवसेच्चैव पुण्याश्चावाश्रमांस्तथा । यदि वन्यैर्न जीवेत ग्रामे भिक्षां समाचरेत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthānyanuvaseccaiva puṇyāścāvāśramāṃstathā | yadi vanyairna jīveta grāme bhikṣāṃ samācaret || 11 ||

Translation

അവൻ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിലും പുണ്യമായ ആശ്രമങ്ങളിലും വസിക്കണം. വന്യവസ്തുക്കളാൽ ജീവിക്കാൻ കഴിയാത്തപക്ഷം, ഗ്രാമത്തിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു വിധിപൂർവ്വം ഭിക്ഷയാൽ ഉപജീവിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• तीर्थानि: holy places
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अनुवसेत्: should reside in/near
• अनुवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• पुण्यान्: holy
• पुण्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आश्रमान्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आश्रमान्: hermitages/āśramas
• आश्रमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (in like manner/also)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional conjunction)

• वन्यैः: by forest-produce
• वन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; साधन (means)

• न: not
• न: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• जीवेत: should live
• जीवेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ग्रामे: in a village
• ग्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice/undertake
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada on dharma/āśrama conduct)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It outlines a disciplined, non-possessive lifestyle: staying in sanctified places (tīrthas/āśramas) and sustaining the body with minimal dependence, using alms only when forest sustenance is insufficient.

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

By prescribing simple living and holy residence, it supports a mind free from acquisition and distraction—conditions that make steady remembrance and worship of Bhagavān easier, even though the verse speaks primarily of conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies Kalpa/Dharma-śāstra practicality: the proper rule of subsistence (vanya first, then bhikṣā) and appropriate conduct for an āśrama-based life.