Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

त्रिगुणां तु वनस्थानां यतीनां तच्चर्गुणम् । स्वस्थाने पूर्णशौचं स्यात्पथ्यर्द्धं मुनिसत्तम ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

triguṇāṃ tu vanasthānāṃ yatīnāṃ taccarguṇam | svasthāne pūrṇaśaucaṃ syātpathyarddhaṃ munisattama || 15 ||

Translation

ବାନପ୍ରସ୍ଥମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଶୌଚମାନ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣ; ଯତିମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତାହା ଚତୁର୍ଗୁଣ। ନିଜ ଯଥାସ୍ଥାନରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶୌଚ ହେବ; ପଥରେ, ହେ ମୁନିଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ବିଧିର ଅର୍ଧମାତ୍ର ପାଳନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ॥୧୫॥

Word by Word

• triguṇām: threefold
• triguṇām: Karma/Pramāṇa (कर्म/प्रमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied 'śaucam' (neuter) is irregular in transmission—sense: ‘threefold’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• vanasthānām: of forest-dwellers (vānaprasthas)
• vanasthānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yatīnām: of ascetics (yatis)
• yatīnām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); here as demonstrative ‘that’ referring to śauca

• caturguṇam: fourfold
• caturguṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• sva-sthāne: in one’s own place
• sva-sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa ‘in one’s own place’

• pūrṇa-śaucam: full purification
• pūrṇa-śaucam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Karmadhāraya ‘complete cleansing’

• syāt: should be/is to be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pathi: on the road
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• arddham: half
• arddham: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominal ‘half’

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन; Tatpuruṣa ‘best of sages’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 teaches graded discipline: as one advances toward renunciation, the standard of purity becomes stricter, reinforcing inner and outer restraint as supports for mokṣa-dharma.

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

While not directly describing bhakti practices, it supports devotion by prescribing steadiness in conduct—purity and self-regulation are presented as practical foundations for a life oriented to worship and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style dharma guidance (ritual and conduct rules): the verse specifies situational allowances (full purity at home vs. half while travelling), a common feature of smārta and dharmaśāstra reasoning.