Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

गर्भाष्टमेऽष्टमे वाब्दे बटुकस्योपनायनम् । आषोडशाब्दपर्यंतं गौणं कालमुशंति च ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

garbhāṣṭame'ṣṭame vābde baṭukasyopanāyanam | āṣoḍaśābdaparyaṃtaṃ gauṇaṃ kālamuśaṃti ca || 11 ||

Translation

لڑکے کا اُپنَین گربھ سے گن کر آٹھویں سال میں یا پیدائش سے گن کر آٹھویں سال میں مقرر ہے؛ اور سولہویں سال تک کا وقت بھی گَون (قابلِ قبول) کہا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• गर्भाष्टमे: in the eighth (year) from conception
• गर्भाष्टमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ-अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; गर्भात् अष्टमः इति पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (eighth from conception) (अब्दे इति अध्याहृतम्)

• अष्टमे: in the eighth (year)
• अष्टमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; (अब्दे इति अध्याहृतम्) locative: in the eighth (year)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (or)

• अब्दे: in the year (of age)
• अब्दे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative: in the year/at the age)

• बटुकस्य: of the boy (novice)
• बटुकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (genitive)

• उपनायनम्: initiation (upanayana)
• उपनायनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied with उशन्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-नाम (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as subject/topic of prescription

• आषोडशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: up to sixteen years
• आषोडशाब्दपर्यन्तम्: अवधि (Avadhi/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-षोडश-अब्द-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः, द्वितीया-एकवचन-आकार (adverbial: up to sixteen years)

• गौणम्: secondary
• गौणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (कालम् इति विशेषणम्) secondary/less primary

• कालम्: time/period
• कालम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (object)

• उशन्ति: they declare
• उशन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वश्/उश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they consider/declare)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in an instructional/dharma context; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara is implied for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It defines the proper window for Upanayana, marking the formal entry into brahmacarya and Vedic discipline; the verse emphasizes timely alignment with dharma while allowing a limited extension up to sixteen years.

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

Indirectly: by establishing the samskara that authorizes Vedic learning and daily disciplines (including mantra-japa and worship), it supports the foundations upon which Vishnu-bhakti and scriptural study are traditionally cultivated.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual time-determination (kāla-nirṇaya) relevant to kalpa/ritual procedure and traditional dharma-śāstra practice—specifically how age is computed (from conception or birth) for performing a samskara.