Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

गर्भसंस्त्रवणे मासे त्रीण्यहानि विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

garbhasaṃstravaṇe māse trīṇyahāni vinirdiśet || 73 ||

Translation

ज्या महिन्यात गर्भस्राव (गर्भपात) होईल, त्या प्रसंगी तीन दिवसांचा शौचकाल ठरवावा।

Word by Word

• गर्भ-संस्त्रवणे: in (the case of) miscarriage/flow of the fetus
• गर्भ-संस्त्रवणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्त्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य संस्त्रवणम्) — Locative singular

• मासे: in a month
• मासे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Numeral adjective agreeing with 'अहानि'

• अहानि: days
• अहानि: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Nominative/Accusative plural

• विनिर्दिशेत्: should prescribe
• विनिर्दिशेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन — should prescribe/indicate

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Dharma/ritual-impurity guidelines)

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 frames compassion and order in dharma by defining a limited, rule-based period of observance after miscarriage, helping households return to regular worship and duties with clarity.

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

By regulating purity observances, it safeguards steady daily worship; disciplined shaucha supports uninterrupted Vishnu-bhakti rather than leaving devotees in confusion about eligibility for rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra style rule-making—how to set time-bound observances (ahāni) for household ritual eligibility.