Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

याजयेद्यजने योग्यान्विप्रो नित्योदकी भवेत् । कुर्य्याच्च वेदग्रहणं तथाग्रेश्च परिग्रहम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yājayedyajane yogyānvipro nityodakī bhavet | kuryyācca vedagrahaṇaṃ tathāgreśca parigraham || 20 ||

Translation

ବିପ୍ର ଯଜ୍ଞକୁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଯଜମାନମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରାଇବା ଉଚିତ; ସେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଜଳଶୁଦ୍ଧି (ସ୍ନାନ-ଆଚମନ) ରେ ପବିତ୍ର ରହିବା ଉଚିତ। ସେ ବେଦ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ-ଧାରଣ କରିବା ସହ ଆଚାରାନୁସାରେ ଦକ୍ଷିଣା/ପରିଗ୍ରହ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• yājayet: should officiate/cause to sacrifice
• yājayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (causal) (धातु)
• Form: Causal Optative (Nijanta Vidhilin), 3rd Person, Singular

• yajane: in the sacrifice
• yajane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yogyān: the worthy ones
• yogyān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vipraḥ: the Brahmin
• vipraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nityodakī: always clean (lit. having constant water)
• nityodakī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nityodakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vedagrahaṇam: learning/grasping of Vedas
• vedagrahaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedagrahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tathā: similarly
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• agneḥ: of the fire
• agneḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• parigraham: maintenance/acceptance
• parigraham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and brahmana conduct)

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 frames brāhmaṇa-dharma as a disciplined triad—serving society through yajña, maintaining inner/outer purity through regular ablutions, and preserving sacred knowledge through Vedic study—so ritual action remains aligned with dharma rather than livelihood alone.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports devotion indirectly: purity (śauca), scriptural grounding (veda-grahaṇa), and righteous service in sacred rites create the ethical and spiritual foundation upon which Vishnu-bhakti and other devotional practices are sustained.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vedagrahaṇa—systematic Vedic learning—implying reliance on Vedāṅga supports (especially Śikṣā for recitation and Vyākaraṇa for correct language) to preserve accuracy in mantra, ritual performance, and teaching.