Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

श्मशाने शौचशेषे च न ग्राह्याः सत्प मृत्तिकाः । इष्टापूर्तं तु कर्त्तव्यं ब्राह्मणेन प्रयत्नतः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

śmaśāne śaucaśeṣe ca na grāhyāḥ satpa mṛttikāḥ | iṣṭāpūrtaṃ tu karttavyaṃ brāhmaṇena prayatnataḥ || 64 ||

Translation

شمشان میں اور طہارت کے بعد جب تک ناپاکی باقی رہے، پاک استعمال کی مقدس مٹی نہیں لینی چاہیے۔ بلکہ برہمن کو پوری کوشش سے اِشٹ اور پورت—یعنی یَجْن وغیرہ اور عوامی بھلائی کے صدقات—ضرور انجام دینے چاہییں۔

Word by Word

• श्मशाने: in a cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• शौचशेषे: in the remnants of impurity (after defilement)
• शौचशेषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शौचस्य शेषः)

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

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ग्राह्याः: should be taken/accepted
• ग्राह्याः: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); विधेय-विशेषण; भाव्य/योग्य-अर्थे (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ) ‘to be taken/acceptable’

• सत्प: good/fit (reading uncertain)
• सत्प: विशेषण (Qualifier of मृत्तिकाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + प (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद-सूचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सत्-पा/सत्पा = ‘good/fit’) — पाठे ‘सत्प’ अस्पष्ट; सम्भाव्यं ‘सत्पा/सत्प्र’ इत्यादि

• मृत्तिकाः: clays/earth (for purification)
• मृत्तिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इष्टापूर्तम्: (acts of) iṣṭa and pūrta (sacrificial and charitable works)
• इष्टापूर्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट + आपूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (इष्टं च आपूर्तं च)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive) ‘to be done/ought to be done’

• ब्राह्मणेन: by a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial) ‘with effort/earnestly’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links inner and outer purity (śauca) with dharmic action: one should avoid using ritual-purifying substances in impure contexts and instead cultivate merit through iṣṭa (sacrifice) and pūrta (charity/public welfare).

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

By emphasizing disciplined purity and selfless merit (iṣṭāpūrta), it supports a sāttvika life that becomes a stable foundation for Vishnu-bhakti—devotion expressed through right conduct and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vaidika ritual procedure: rules of śauca (purification), context-based eligibility of ritual materials (mṛttikā), and the dharmic classification of meritorious works as iṣṭa and pūrta.