Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

श्मशाने शौचशेषे च न ग्राह्याः सत्प मृत्तिकाः । इष्टापूर्तं तु कर्त्तव्यं ब्राह्मणेन प्रयत्नतः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

śmaśāne śaucaśeṣe ca na grāhyāḥ satpa mṛttikāḥ | iṣṭāpūrtaṃ tu karttavyaṃ brāhmaṇena prayatnataḥ || 64 ||

Translation

శ్మశానంలోనూ, శౌచక్రియ అనంతరం అపవిత్రత మిగిలి ఉన్నప్పుడు శుద్ధప్రయోగానికి ఉద్దేశించిన పవిత్ర మట్టిని గ్రహించరాదు. అయితే బ్రాహ్మణుడు ప్రయత్నపూర్వకంగా ఇష్టము మరియు పూర్తము—యజ్ఞాది పుణ్యకర్మలు, లోకహిత దానాలు—చేయవలెను.

Word by Word

• श्मशाने: in a cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• शौचशेषे: in the remnants of impurity (after defilement)
• शौचशेषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शौचस्य शेषः)

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

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ग्राह्याः: should be taken/accepted
• ग्राह्याः: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); विधेय-विशेषण; भाव्य/योग्य-अर्थे (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ) ‘to be taken/acceptable’

• सत्प: good/fit (reading uncertain)
• सत्प: विशेषण (Qualifier of मृत्तिकाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + प (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद-सूचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सत्-पा/सत्पा = ‘good/fit’) — पाठे ‘सत्प’ अस्पष्ट; सम्भाव्यं ‘सत्पा/सत्प्र’ इत्यादि

• मृत्तिकाः: clays/earth (for purification)
• मृत्तिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इष्टापूर्तम्: (acts of) iṣṭa and pūrta (sacrificial and charitable works)
• इष्टापूर्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट + आपूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (इष्टं च आपूर्तं च)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive) ‘to be done/ought to be done’

• ब्राह्मणेन: by a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial) ‘with effort/earnestly’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links inner and outer purity (śauca) with dharmic action: one should avoid using ritual-purifying substances in impure contexts and instead cultivate merit through iṣṭa (sacrifice) and pūrta (charity/public welfare).

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

By emphasizing disciplined purity and selfless merit (iṣṭāpūrta), it supports a sāttvika life that becomes a stable foundation for Vishnu-bhakti—devotion expressed through right conduct and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vaidika ritual procedure: rules of śauca (purification), context-based eligibility of ritual materials (mṛttikā), and the dharmic classification of meritorious works as iṣṭa and pūrta.