Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

कषायं चैव मांजिष्टं हारिद्रं च प्रकीर्तितम् । उपनीतो द्विजो विप्र परिचर्यापरो गुरोः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kaṣāyaṃ caiva māṃjiṣṭaṃ hāridraṃ ca prakīrtitam | upanīto dvijo vipra paricaryāparo guroḥ || 21 ||

Translation

କଷାୟ (ଗେରୁଆ), ମାଞ୍ଜିଷ୍ଠ (ମଞ୍ଜିଷ୍ଠା-ଲାଲ), ହାରିଦ୍ର (ହଳଦିଆ) ବର୍ଣ୍ଣର ବସ୍ତ୍ରମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକୀର୍ତ୍ତିତ। ଉପନୟନ ପାଇଥିବା ଦ୍ୱିଜ—ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ—ଗୁରୁସେବାରେ ପରାୟଣ ହେଉ।

Word by Word

• कषायम्: brown (color/dye)
• कषायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कषाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (a) brown/reddish dye/color

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मांजिष्टम्: madder (dye)
• मांजिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांजिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; madder (dye)

• हारिद्रम्: turmeric-yellow
• हारिद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; turmeric-yellow

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

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is declared
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) + प्र + क्त-प्रत्यय → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is declared/has been stated’

• उपनीतः: initiated
• उपनीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नी (धातु) + उप + क्त-प्रत्यय → उपनीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘initiated (led near)’

• द्विजः: the twice-born (student)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• परिचर्या-परः: devoted to service
• परिचर्या-परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘devoted to service’

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to a brāhmaṇa interlocutor within the teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Guru

FAQs

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

It links outer discipline (simple, marked student attire) with inner discipline: after upanayana, the dvija’s primary spiritual practice is humility and dedicated service to the guru.

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

By emphasizing guru-sevā as a foundational devotional attitude—service, obedience, and reverence—through which sacred knowledge and dharma become lived practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It supports the practical framework of śikṣā and kalpa (discipline and ritual conduct): the initiated student follows prescribed signs of life and prioritizes regulated service in the guru’s household.