Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मेण च विवाहेन वैवाह्यो वै द्विजोत्तमः । दैवेनाप्यथवा विप्र केचिदार्षं प्रचक्षते ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmeṇa ca vivāhena vaivāhyo vai dvijottamaḥ | daivenāpyathavā vipra kecidārṣaṃ pracakṣate || 17 ||

Translation

Браком формы бра́хма, о лучший из дважды-рождённых, жених по праву получает возможность вступить в союз; и браком формы дайва также, о брахман. Однако некоторые называют это формой арша.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मेण: by the Brāhma (marriage)
• ब्राह्मेण: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु (by means of)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• विवाहेन: by marriage/through the marriage rite
• विवाहेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैवाह्यः: fit/proper for marriage (i.e., eligible)
• वैवाह्यः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैवाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of द्विजोत्तमः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best Brāhmaṇa/twice-born man
• द्विजोत्तमः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) = द्विज + उत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘best of the twice-born’)

• दैवेन: by the Daiva (marriage)
• दैवेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद (also/even)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: सम्बन्ध (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पबोधक (disjunctive: or)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun: ‘some’)

• आर्षम्: the Ārṣa (marriage)
• आर्षम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of प्रचक्षते)

• प्रचक्षते: call/declare
• प्रचक्षते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्ष् (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• dvija
• vipra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharma-siddhi through properly sanctioned samskāras: the legitimacy of marriage depends on Vedic-approved forms, preserving purity of conduct and social-religious order for the dvija.

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

Indirectly: bhakti in the Purāṇic framework is supported by dharmic living. Performing life-rites (like vivāha) in approved ways stabilizes one’s conduct and makes one fit for higher duties such as worship, vrata, and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied—classification of vivāha forms and their acceptability, a practical guide for applying śrauta/smārta norms in household life.