Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

देवराच्च सुतोत्पत्तिर्मधुपर्के पशोर्वधः । मांसादनं तथा श्राद्धे वानप्रस्थाश्रमस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

devarācca sutotpattirmadhuparke paśorvadhaḥ | māṃsādanaṃ tathā śrāddhe vānaprasthāśramastathā || 14 ||

Translation

Ang pag-aanak ng lalaki sa pamamagitan ng devara (kapatid na lalaki ng asawa), ang pagkatay ng hayop para sa handog na madhuparka, ang pagkain ng karne sa ritwal na śrāddha, at gayundin ang disiplina ng yugto ng vānaprastha (naninirahan sa gubat)—ang mga ito’y dapat maunawaan ayon sa itinakdang konteksto ng mga ritwal.

Word by Word

• देवरात्: from the husband’s younger brother (devara)
• देवरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

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

• सुत-उत्पत्तिः: begetting of a son
• सुत-उत्पत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता-निर्देश), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• मधुपर्के: in the madhuparka-rite (honey-mixture reception)
• मधुपर्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुपर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पशोः: of an animal
• पशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वधः: killing
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• मांस-अदनम्: eating of meat
• मांस-अदनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + अदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha (ancestral rite)
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमः: the vānaprastha-āśrama (forest-dweller stage)
• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights that certain acts—otherwise restricted—may be permitted when performed strictly within Vedic/Smṛti-ordained rites, emphasizing dharma as context-sensitive and rule-governed rather than merely literal.

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

By stressing obedience to scriptural injunctions and purity of intention in prescribed duties, it supports bhakti as disciplined living—where actions are aligned with dharma and offered in a regulated, non-indulgent spirit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application tied to Kalpa (procedural rules for rites like madhuparka and śrāddha) and proper dharma-interpretation, i.e., knowing when an injunction is a specific exception rather than a general license.