Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self

Advaita

Devanagari script

स्थित स्तेन गृहीतार्थो निजवेश्म प्रवेशितः । प्रक्षालितांघ्रिपाणिं च कृतासनपरिग्रहम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

sthita stena gṛhītārtho nijaveśma praveśitaḥ | prakṣālitāṃghripāṇiṃ ca kṛtāsanaparigraham || 42 ||

Translation

Mesmo um ladrão—uma vez contido, privado do que roubou e conduzido à própria casa—deve ser tratado como hóspede: lavam-se seus pés e mãos e oferece-se um assento (āsana).

Word by Word

• स्थितः: standing / having stood
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjectival to implied person

• स्तेनः: thief
• स्तेनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• गृहीतार्थः: having taken the goods/wealth
• गृहीतार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत्/निर्धारण: ‘गृहीतः अर्थः यस्य’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• निज-वेश्म: one's own house
• निज-वेश्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); destination with motion

• प्रवेशितः: was brought/led inside
• प्रवेशितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) → प्रवेशित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative + क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense ‘made to enter/led in’

• प्रक्षालित-अङ्घ्रि-पाणिम्: with washed feet and hands
• प्रक्षालित-अङ्घ्रि-पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रक्षालित (प्र-क्षल् धातु, क्त) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत्: ‘प्रक्षालितौ अङ्घ्री पाणी च यस्य’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); object of implied action (seeing/receiving)

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

• कृत-आसन-परिग्रहम्: having taken a seat
• कृत-आसन-परिग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having taken/accepted a seat’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that Dharma is shown not only in restraining wrongdoing, but in restoring humane, sattvic conduct afterward—hospitality and restraint together purify the householder’s mind and reduce hatred.

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

By honoring the dignity of beings even after correcting them, one cultivates compassion and self-control—qualities that support Vishnu-bhakti by softening ego, anger, and vengeance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style dharma practice in daily life: the customary rite of atithi-satkara—washing feet/hands and offering an āsana—applied as ethical discipline even in difficult situations.