Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

कृतन्घीं च तथा चंडीं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् । सभायां यज्ञशालायां देवतायतनेष्वपि ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtanghīṃ ca tathā caṃḍīṃ kadācinnābhivādayet | sabhāyāṃ yajñaśālāyāṃ devatāyataneṣvapi || 41 ||

Translation

కృతఘ్నీ (కృతజ్ఞతలేని) స్త్రీకి, అలాగే చండీ (ఉగ్ర/అశుద్ధాచారిణి) స్త్రీకి ఎప్పుడూ నమస్కారం చేయకూడదు—ముఖ్యంగా సభలో, యజ్ఞశాలలో, దేవాలయాలలో కూడా॥౪౧॥

Word by Word

• कृतघ्नीम्: an ungrateful woman
• कृतघ्नीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्निन्/घ्नी (प्रातिपदिक from √हन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कृतं/उपकारं हन्ति इति; ‘ungrateful’)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चय-अव्यय (in like manner)

• चण्डीम्: a fierce/violent woman
• चण्डीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कदाचित्: ever/at any time
• कदाचित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb: ‘ever/at any time’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• अभिवादयेत्: should salute
• अभिवादयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+√वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सभायाम्: in an assembly
• सभायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• यज्ञ-शालायाम्: in a sacrificial hall
• यज्ञ-शालायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य शाला)

• देवत-आयतनेषु: in temples/shrines
• देवत-आयतनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देवतायाः आयतनम्)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Narada (teaching norms of sadācāra within sacred and public settings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It protects the sanctity of sacred and public spaces by prescribing disciplined speech and gestures; reverence (abhivādana) is treated as a ritual act that should align with dharma and purity of context.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense includes reverent conduct in temples and yajña settings; the verse implies that devotion is not only inner feeling but also careful, dharmic behavior in the Lord’s precincts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and ācāra-vidhi are implied: rules governing appropriate acts in yajña-śālā and devatāyatana, showing how ritual context determines what is permitted or prohibited.