Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

अध्ययनाध्यापनादून्वर्जयेत्संस्मरेद्धरिम् । ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं गंधमाल्यादि वर्जयेत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

adhyayanādhyāpanādūnvarjayetsaṃsmareddharim | brahmacārī bhavennityaṃ gaṃdhamālyādi varjayet || 10 ||

Translation

अध्ययन- अध्यापनास बाधक गोष्टी टाळून हरिचे निरंतर स्मरण करावे। तो नित्य ब्रह्मचारी राहावा आणि सुगंध, माळा इत्यादी भोग-शृंगार वर्ज्य करावा।

Word by Word

• अध्ययन: from studying
• अध्ययन: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; (समासे) अध्ययनात्

• अध्यापन: from teaching
• अध्यापन: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; (समासे) अध्यापनात्

• अदून्: those (persons/things)
• अदून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदू (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चारिन्)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• गन्ध: perfume
• गन्ध: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (समासे) गन्धम्

• माल्य: garland
• माल्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (समासे) माल्यम्

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/उदाहरणार्थ (etc.)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It ties inner purity to daily discipline: preserving the sanctity of study/teaching and anchoring the mind in Hari-smaraṇa, while minimizing sensory distractions through brahmacarya.

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

Bhakti is presented as continual remembrance (saṃsmaraṇa) of Hari; outward restraint (avoiding perfumes/garlands) supports inward steadiness so devotion becomes uninterrupted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the dharma of adhyayana–adhyāpana (structured study and instruction), a practical foundation for preserving śāstra learning—closely aligned with disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā that depend on sustained, distraction-free practice.