Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

गृहीतशिश्रश्चोत्थाय शौचार्थं मृदमाहरेत् । न मूषकादिखनितां फालोत्कृष्टां तथैव च ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

gṛhītaśiśraścotthāya śaucārthaṃ mṛdamāharet | na mūṣakādikhanitāṃ phālotkṛṣṭāṃ tathaiva ca || 10 ||

Translation

После испражнения следует встать и принести чистую землю для śauca; но не следует брать землю, вырытую крысами и подобными, и также землю, только что поднятую плугом.

Word by Word

• gṛhīta-śiśraḥ: one who has held (his) penis
• gṛhīta-śiśraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (ग्रह् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + śiśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘gṛhītaṃ śiśraṃ yena’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agent implied (one who has held the penis)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• utthāya: having risen/standing up
• utthāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ut-sthā (उत् + स्था धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• śauca-artham: for the sake of cleansing
• śauca-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śaucasya arthaḥ’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose (प्रयोजन)

• mṛdam: clay/earth
• mṛdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular

• āharet: should bring
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hṛ (आ + हृ धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• mūṣaka-ādi-khanitām: dug up by mice etc.
• mūṣaka-ādi-khanitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūṣaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + khanita (खन् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘mūṣakādibhiḥ khanitā’; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies mṛdam

• phāla-utkṛṣṭām: turned up by a plough
• phāla-utkṛṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phāla (प्रातिपदिक) + utkṛṣṭa (ut-√kṛṣ, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘phālena utkṛṣṭā’; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies mṛdam

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

Speaker

Narada (teaching Dharma/Śauca rules in the Narada Purana narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It frames external cleanliness (śauca) as a dhārmic discipline: purity is maintained not only by cleansing, but also by choosing uncontaminated means (clean earth), reinforcing mindfulness in daily conduct.

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

While not directly about bhakti, it supports a sāttvika lifestyle: bodily purity and careful observance of dharma are presented as foundational supports for worship, japa, and devotion-oriented practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science (kalpa-style śauca-vidhi): practical rules for purification, including which materials are fit or unfit for use in nitya-karma and domestic rites.