Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

ब्राह्नो दैवस्तथैवार्षः प्राजापत्यस्तथासुरः । गांधर्वो राक्षसश्चैव पैशाचश्चाष्टमो मतः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

brāhno daivastathaivārṣaḥ prājāpatyastathāsuraḥ | gāṃdharvo rākṣasaścaiva paiśācaścāṣṭamo mataḥ || 16 ||

Translation

ब्राह्म, दैव, आर्ष, प्राजापत्य, आसुर; तसेच गांधर्व, राक्षस आणि पैशाच—हे आठ प्रकार मानले आहेत.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मः: Brāhma (marriage type)
• ब्राह्मः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• दैवः: Daiva (marriage type)
• दैवः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारबोधक (thus/also)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• आर्षः: Ārṣa (marriage type)
• आर्षः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• प्राजापत्यः: Prājāpatya (marriage type)
• प्राजापत्यः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारबोधक

• असुरः: Āsura (marriage type)
• असुरः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम (आसुर)

• गान्धर्वः: Gāndharva (marriage type)
• गान्धर्वः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• राक्षसः: Rākṣasa (marriage type)
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• पैशाचः: Paiśāca (marriage type)
• पैशाचः: कर्ता (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विवाह-प्रकारनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अष्टमः: the eighth
• अष्टमः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal)

• मतः: is considered (to be)
• मतः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘considered/held’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a dharma/vidhi discussion; traditional dialogue setting with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It classifies marriage into eight śāstric forms, framing household life (gṛhastha-dharma) as a regulated, ethical institution that supports dharma and social order.

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

Indirectly: by defining dharmic household conduct, it establishes a stable gṛhastha foundation from which worship, vows, charity, and Vishnu-bhakti practices can be performed without adharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Dharma-vidhi and social-ritual classification (connected to kalpa/dharma traditions): it provides a technical taxonomy used for deciding propriety, ritual eligibility, and ethical evaluation of marriage forms.