Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं वृद्धिश्राद्धमथापरम् । पार्वणं चेति विज्ञेयं श्राद्धं प़ञ्चविधं बुधैः ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ vṛddhiśrāddhamathāparam | pārvaṇaṃ ceti vijñeyaṃ śrāddhaṃ pa़ñcavidhaṃ budhaiḥ || 79 ||

Translation

ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନମାନେ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧକୁ ପାଞ୍ଚ ପ୍ରକାର ବୋଲି ଜାଣନ୍ତି—ନିତ୍ୟ, ନୈମିତ୍ତିକ, କାମ୍ୟ, ବୃଦ୍ଧି-ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ ଏବଂ ପାର୍ବଣ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ।

Word by Word

• nityam: daily (type)
• nityam: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as item-name

• naimittikam: occasional (due to a cause)
• naimittikam: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naimittika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāmyam: desire-motivated (optional)
• kāmyam: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vṛddhi-śrāddham: growth/prosperity śrāddha
• vṛddhi-śrāddham: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha/Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अथ—क्रमसूचक निपात)

• aparam: another (type)
• aparam: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pārvaṇam: pārvaṇa śrāddha (fortnightly)
• pārvaṇam: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति—उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक)

• vijñeyam: is to be known
• vijñeyam: Vidheyārtha (विधेय/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-jñā (वि+ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory passive participle (तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrāddham: śrāddha
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pañca-vidham: fivefold
• pañca-vidham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śrāddham

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent-instrument (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It systematizes Pitṛ-karman by defining five Śrāddha categories, showing that honoring ancestors is a structured dharmic duty with distinct intentions—regular duty, occasion-based duty, desire-based aims, prosperity rites, and the formal Pārvaṇa observance.

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: correctly performed Śrāddha is presented as a faithful offering done with śraddhā (reverent intent), aligning household life with sacred obligation that can complement Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual classification and timing principles (karma-bheda and occasion-based rites) are emphasized—knowledge closely tied to Kalpa (Vedāṅga of ritual procedure) and, for Pārvaṇa context, the calendrical framework used in Jyotiṣa-based tithi reckoning.