Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

मन्वादिषु मृदाहे च अष्टकासु च नारद । नावधान्ये समायाते गृही श्राद्धं समाचरेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

manvādiṣu mṛdāhe ca aṣṭakāsu ca nārada | nāvadhānye samāyāte gṛhī śrāddhaṃ samācaret || 41 ||

Translation

اے نارَد! منوادि دنوں میں، مِرداہ کے دن، اَشٹکا کے ایّام میں اور نو دھانْیہ کے موسم کے آنے پر گِرہستھ کو باقاعدہ شِرادھ کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• manvādiṣu: On Manvadi days (start of Manvantaras)
• manvādiṣu: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manvādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• mṛdāhe: On the day of death (anniversary)
• mṛdāhe: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtāhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Note: Text uses 'mṛdāhe', likely variant for 'mṛtāhe')

• ca: And
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• aṣṭakāsu: On Ashtaka days (8th day after full moon in winter months)
• aṣṭakāsu: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• ca: And
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• nārada: O Narada
• nārada: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• navadhānye: When new grain/harvest
• navadhānye: Bhavalaksana (Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navadhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Sati Saptami/Locative Absolute). Text has 'nāvadhānye' (likely typo)

• samāyāte: Has arrived
• samāyāte: Bhavalaksana (Condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāyāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Sati Saptami/Locative Absolute)

• gṛhī: Householder
• gṛhī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śrāddham: Shraddha ritual
• śrāddham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samācaret: Should perform well
• samācaret: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential Mood), Prathama Purusha, Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrāddha (Manvādi-śrāddha; Aṣṭakā-śrāddha; seasonal/navadhānya-related śrāddha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that honoring the Pitṛs through Śrāddha is not random but tied to sacred calendrical occasions; performing it at these times strengthens dharma, gratitude to ancestors, and the continuity of family rites.

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

By directing the gṛhastha to perform Śrāddha at prescribed times, it frames devotion as disciplined service—where reverence to ancestors and adherence to śāstric timing become expressions of dharmic bhakti in daily life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical and timing knowledge (Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga astrology) to identify Manvādi, Aṣṭakā, and seasonal ‘new grain’ occasions as proper windows for Pitṛ rites.