Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

देवतागुरुशिष्टान्यं पिबन्नासवमाशया । पातकी राजदंड्यश्च रिक्थोपासक एव ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

devatāguruśiṣṭānyaṃ pibannāsavamāśayā | pātakī rājadaṃḍyaśca rikthopāsaka eva || 26 ||

Translation

देवता, गुरु किंवा शिष्टजनांच्या नावाने अर्पण करण्याच्या आशेने जो आसव पितो, तो पापी ठरतो; तो राजदंडास पात्र होतो आणि शिष्टांच्या उच्छिष्टाचा उपासक मानला जातो.

Word by Word

• देवता-गुरु-शिष्ट-अन्यम्: (liquor) other than what is (meant for) deity/guru/authorized (use)
• देवता-गुरु-शिष्ट-अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवता + गुरु + शिष्ट + अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—आसवम्; अर्थः: देवतागुरुशिष्टेभ्यः अन्यः (different from deity, guru, and the instructed/authorized)

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• आसवम्: fermented liquor
• आसवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आशया: with the intention/hope
• आशया: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधनार्थे (with intention/hope)

• पातकी: (he is) a sinner
• पातकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राज-दण्ड्यः: punishable by the king
• राज-दण्ड्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजन् + दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—(सः); (राज्ञा दण्ड्यः = punishable by the king)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• रिक्थ-उपासकः: one who seeks inheritance/property
• रिक्थ-उपासकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिक्थ + उपासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (रिक्थम् उपासते इति = one who seeks/invokes inheritance/property)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic: indeed/only)

Speaker

Narada (instruction within Vedanga/Dharma context; dialogue frame traditionally Narada teaching, often to/through Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that unethical means cannot be justified by a religious pretext: drinking intoxicants remains pāpa even if one claims it is for gods or the guru, and it results in both spiritual fault and worldly penalty.

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

Bhakti is grounded in purity and self-restraint; the verse implies that true devotion does not use impure substances or excuses, but aligns conduct (ācāra) with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dharma-śāstric discipline tied to ritual purity (śauca) and proper conduct—practical rules that govern what is acceptable in religious practice and what incurs social/legal sanction (rāja-daṇḍa).