Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

गौरसर्षपस्तर्त्रयं स्यात्तत्षट्कं यव उच्यते । यवत्रयं कृष्णलः स्यान्माषस्तत्पंचकं स्मृतः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

gaurasarṣapastartrayaṃ syāttatṣaṭkaṃ yava ucyate | yavatrayaṃ kṛṣṇalaḥ syānmāṣastatpaṃcakaṃ smṛtaḥ || 37 ||

Translation

మూడు గౌరసర్షపములు ఒక ప్రమాణము; దాని ఆరు ‘యవ’ అని చెప్పబడును. మూడు యవలు ‘కృష్ణల’; ఐదు కృష్ణలలు ‘మాష’ అని స్మృతిలో ఉంది.

Word by Word

• गौरसर्षपः: a white mustard-seed
• गौरसर्षपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौर-सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—गौरः सर्षपः (कर्मधारयः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound), संकेतार्थ (that)

• त्रयम्: three (of those)
• त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement with स्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• स्यात्: would be/is taken as
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• षट्कम्: a set of six
• षट्कम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• यवः: a barley-corn (unit)
• यवः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यव: barley-corn
• यव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• त्रयम्: three barley-corns
• त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); समासः—यवानाम् त्रयम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• कृष्णलः: a kṛṣṇala (guñjā-seed unit)
• कृष्णलः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• स्यात्: would be/is taken as
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• माषः: a māṣa (bean/weight unit)
• माषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• पञ्चकम्: a set of five
• पञ्चकम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement with स्मृतः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• स्मृतः: is considered/said to be
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative PPP)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used predicatively), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical standard of measures in the Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharmic practice requires precision and standardization; correct measures protect the integrity of yajña, dāna, and vrata observances.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful, faithful observance—accurate measures in offerings and sacred acts reflect sincerity, discipline, and respect toward the deity and the rite.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical framework akin to Vedāṅga applications in ritual practice: standardized metrology for calculating and measuring substances used in rites, gifts, and formal procedures.