Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

सार्षापं रोगनाशाय कथितं कर्मकोविदैः । मारणे राजिकोत्थं वा विभीतकसमुद्भवम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

sārṣāpaṃ roganāśāya kathitaṃ karmakovidaiḥ | māraṇe rājikotthaṃ vā vibhītakasamudbhavam || 5 ||

Translation

రోగనాశార్థం కర్మకోవిదులు సర్షపజాత సిద్ధాన్ని చెప్పారు. అయితే మారణకర్మలో రాజికా (నల్ల ఆవాలు)జాతమో, లేక విభీతకవృక్షసముద్భవమో అని పేర్కొన్నారు.

Word by Word

• सार्षापम्: mustard (oil/seed)
• सार्षापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्षाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रोगनाशाय: for the destruction of disease
• रोगनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग-नाश (प्रातिपदिक; रोग + नाश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• कथितम्: is said/declared
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• कर्मकोविदैः: by those skilled in rites/actions
• कर्मकोविदैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म-कोविद (प्रातिपदिक; कर्म + कोविद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश), बहुवचन; agent in passive construction

• मारणे: in the act/rite of killing
• मारणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विषय/प्रयोगे ‘in (the rite of) killing’

• राजिकोत्थम्: arising from mustard (rājikā)
• राजिकोत्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजिका-उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक; राजिका + उत्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied substance like taila)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• विभीतकसमुद्भवम्: originating from bibhītaka
• विभीतकसमुद्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीतक-समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक; विभीतक + समुद्भव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (as part of a technical exposition within the Vedanga/ritual-science section; traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It distinguishes dharmic, welfare-oriented applications (removal of disease) from harmful, destructive rites, showing that technical knowledge must be governed by ethical intent.

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

Indirectly: by implying that power-oriented rites (like māraṇa) are spiritually inferior to sattvic, compassionate aims; Bhakti traditions emphasize non-harm and reliance on divine grace over coercive ritual power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied ritual science (karma-kāṇḍa prayoga): identifying specific substances (sarṣapa, rājikā, bibhītaka) and their intended ritual outcomes—an example of technical procedural knowledge used in rites.