Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

अन्यथा पतितं विद्यात्कर्त्तापि ब्रह्महा भवेत् । र्मौजी विप्रस्य विज्ञेया धनुर्ज्या क्षत्त्रियस्य तु ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

anyathā patitaṃ vidyātkarttāpi brahmahā bhavet | rmaujī viprasya vijñeyā dhanurjyā kṣattriyasya tu || 16 ||

Translation

ଅନ୍ୟଥା (ବିଧିବିରୋଧରେ) କଲେ ତାହା ପତନର କାରଣ ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ; କର୍ତ୍ତା ମଧ୍ୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣହତ୍ୟାସମ ପାପର ଭାଗୀ ହୁଏ। ବିପ୍ରଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମୌଜୀ (ମୁଞ୍ଜ ଘାସର ମେଖଳା) ଏବଂ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଧନୁର୍ଜ୍ୟା (ଧନୁଷର ତାଣ୍ଡ) ଚିହ୍ନ ଭାବେ କୁହାଯାଇଛି।

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकाराव्यय (adverb: otherwise)

• पतितम्: (as) fallen
• पतितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘fallen one’ (as predicate-object of ‘vidyāt’)

• विद्यात्: should know/deem
• विद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्त्ता: the performer (of the rite)
• कर्त्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: also/even)

• ब्रह्महा: a Brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्महा: कर्ता-प्रत्यय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मौजी: the muñja-girdle
• मौजी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौजी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (sacred girdle made of muñja)

• विप्रस्य: of a Brahmin
• विप्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विज्ञेया: should be known (as)
• विज्ञेया: विधेय (Predicate/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory participle) ‘-एया’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive sense: ‘is to be known/should be understood’

• धनुर्ज्या: a bowstring
• धनुर्ज्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (धनुषः ज्या)

• क्षत्त्रियस्य: of a Kṣatriya
• क्षत्त्रियस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Vipra
• Kshatriya

FAQs

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

It stresses that dharma must be practiced according to śāstra and one’s rightful discipline; misusing prescribed marks and duties is treated as a severe spiritual breach that leads to downfall.

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

By warning against adharma and hypocrisy, it supports bhakti as śuddha-ācāra—devotion expressed through truthful, rule-aligned conduct rather than external imitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Smārta-ritual discipline: correct assignment and use of varṇa-identifiers (like the brāhmaṇa’s maujī and the kṣatriya’s bowstring) as part of regulated religious practice.