Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

श्यशानदेशे विप्रेंद्र सिद्ध्यंत्यस्य पिशाचकाः । अश्मपातप्रहाराद्यैर्जीयादाभिर्द्विषश्चिरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śyaśānadeśe vipreṃdra siddhyaṃtyasya piśācakāḥ | aśmapātaprahārādyairjīyādābhirdviṣaściram || 41 ||

Translation

O pinakamainam sa mga brāhmaṇa, sa pook ng pagsusunog ng bangkay, ang mga piśāca (mga nilalang na multo) ay nagiging masunurin sa kanya. Sa gayong mga paraan—pagbagsak ng bato, mararahas na hampas, at iba pa—ang kanyang mga kaaway ay pinahihirapan nang matagal.

Word by Word

• श्मशान-देशे: in a cremation-ground place
• श्मशान-देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्र-इन्द्र: O best of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिद्ध्यन्ति: they become accomplished / are attained
• सिद्ध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अस्य: of him/this (practitioner)
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिशाचकाः: piśācas, goblin-spirits
• पिशाचकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अश्म-पात-प्रहार-आद्यैः: by stone-falls, blows, and the like
• अश्म-पात-प्रहार-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); 'आदि' = etc.

• जियात्: he should conquer
• जियात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• आभिः: by these (means)
• आभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्विषः: enemies
• द्विषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Piśācas
• Śmaśāna (cremation-ground)

FAQs

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

It warns that certain mantra-rites pursued in impure places like cremation-grounds can yield “siddhi” through lower spirits, producing harmful, fear-based results rather than sattvic spiritual uplift.

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

By contrast: the verse highlights coercive, hostile outcomes (afflicting enemies) associated with tamasic rites, implicitly steering the seeker away from such aims and toward Vishnu-bhakti, which seeks purification and liberation rather than injury.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical-ritual outlook (prayoga) about place (deśa) and effects (phala) of rites—knowledge adjacent to kalpa (ritual procedure) and mantra-prayoga traditions discussed in Vedanga-oriented sections.