Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

तस्य चैव पवित्रार्थं वह्नौ तापनमीरितम् । अग्रे धृतेन वैधव्यं मध्ये चैव प्रजाक्षयः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tasya caiva pavitrārthaṃ vahnau tāpanamīritam | agre dhṛtena vaidhavyaṃ madhye caiva prajākṣayaḥ || 35 ||

Translation

เพื่อความบริสุทธิ์ของสิ่งนั้น มีบัญญัติให้ลนด้วยไฟ หากจับไว้ส่วนหน้าโดยมีเนยใส จะก่อให้เกิดความเป็นหม้าย; หากจับไว้ส่วนกลาง จะทำให้วงศ์สืบสายสิ้นไป.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that/its
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पवित्रार्थम्: for the purpose of purification
• पवित्रार्थम्: प्रयोजन (हेतु/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pavitrasyārthaḥ)

• वह्नौ: in the fire
• वह्नौ: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• तापनम्: heating/burning
• तापनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → तापन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); भाववाचक-नाम (action noun)

• ईरितम्: is said/declared
• ईरितम्: विधेय (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → ईरित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• अग्रे: in front/at the front
• अग्रे: अधिकरण (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (adverbial/locative sense), स्थानवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• धृतेन: with ghee
• धृतेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धृ धारणे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• वैधव्यम्: widowhood
• वैधव्यम्: विधेय (predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैधव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/locative sense), स्थानवाचक (in the middle)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• प्रजाक्षयः: destruction of offspring
• प्रजाक्षयः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prajānāṃ kṣayaḥ)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification (pavitrārtha) is not merely symbolic—ritual actions have ethical and karmic weight, and incorrect handling within a rite is said to yield harmful results.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined, careful observance of dharma in sacred acts, which supports a pure mind—an essential foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti even when the verse itself focuses on ritual procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (the Vedanga of ritual procedure) is implied—precise rules about purification by fire and correct placement/handling within a rite are characteristic of Kalpa-based injunctions.