Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

ताम्रायाश्च पयो ग्राह्यं श्वेतायाश्च दधि स्मृतम् । कपिलाया घृतं ग्राह्यं महापातकनाशनम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

tāmrāyāśca payo grāhyaṃ śvetāyāśca dadhi smṛtam | kapilāyā ghṛtaṃ grāhyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam || 68 ||

Translation

தாம்ரவர்ணப் பசுவின் பாலை எடுத்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்; வெள்ளைப் பசுவின் தயிர் விதியாகச் சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது. கபிலா பசுவின் நெய் கொள்ள வேண்டும்—அது மகாபாதகங்களை அழிப்பது.

Word by Word

• ताम्रायाः: of the copper-colored (cow)
• ताम्रायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पयः: milk
• पयः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ग्राह्यम्: to be taken/should be taken
• ग्राह्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अर्थः—‘ग्रहणीयम्/should be taken’

• श्वेतायाः: of the white (cow)
• श्वेतायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘उक्तम्/considered/remembered as’

• कपिलायाः: of the tawny (cow)
• कपिलायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ग्राह्यम्: to be taken
• ग्राह्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): ‘महापातकस्य नाशनम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the teaching as received in the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kapilā (cow)
• Mahāpātaka

FAQs

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

It links specific cow-derived substances (milk, curd, ghee) with śuddhi (purification) and prāyaścitta, emphasizing that properly prescribed ritual substances—especially Kapilā-ghee—are held to mitigate even major sins (mahāpātakas) when used within dhārmic procedure.

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti indirectly: purity disciplines and expiations are presented as safeguards that steady a devotee’s life, making worship and vows more consistent and sattvic—conditions traditionally considered supportive for Viṣṇu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/ritual procedure (as reflected in dharma-śāstra style prescriptions): which substance is ‘grāhya’ (acceptable) for a given rite and its intended purificatory result.