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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

श्राद्धे क्षणस्तु कर्त्तव्यः प्रसादश्चेति सत्तम । निमंत्रयेद्द्विजं प्राज्ञं दर्भपाणिर्जितेंद्रियः ॥ २० ॥

śrāddhe kṣaṇastu karttavyaḥ prasādaśceti sattama | nimaṃtrayeddvijaṃ prājñaṃ darbhapāṇirjiteṃdriyaḥ || 20 ||

اے نیکوں کے سردار! شرادھ میں مناسب وقت/مُہورت کا لحاظ اور دل کی خوشگواری رکھنی چاہیے۔ حواس کو قابو میں رکھ کر، ہاتھ میں دربھ گھاس لیے، دانا دِوِج (برہمن) کو دعوت دے۔

śrāddhein the śrāddha rite
śrāddhe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootśrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
kṣaṇaḥa moment (proper time)
kṣaṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
tubut, indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)
kartavyaḥshould be done
kartavyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Root√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative): ‘to be done/should be made’
prasādaḥserenity/cheerfulness (graciousness)
prasādaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formइति-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरण-अव्यय (quotative particle)
sattamaO best of the good
sattama:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootsat-tama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सतां तमः/श्रेष्ठः’
nimantrayetshould invite
nimantrayet:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootni + √mantr (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
dvijama brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
dvijam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
prājñamwise
prājñam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootprājña (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of dvijam)
darbha-pāṇiḥone with darbha grass in hand
darbha-pāṇiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdarbha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘दर्भः पाणौ यस्य सः’
jita-indriyaḥself-controlled (senses conquered)
jita-indriyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootjita (√ji धातु + kta) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः’

Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional voice within the Śrāddha-vidhi context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

It teaches that Śrāddha is not merely an external rite: its efficacy depends on right timing, inner serenity, and disciplined conduct while honoring ancestors through a worthy recipient (a learned brāhmaṇa).

By emphasizing prasāda (a calm, reverent heart) and self-restraint, it frames ritual action as an offering performed with devotional purity—devotion expressed through disciplined, respectful service rather than display.

Ritual procedure and timing (kṣaṇa) align with Vedāṅga principles used in karma-kāṇḍa practice—selecting the proper moment and maintaining prescribed ritual implements like darbha while inviting the officiant.