Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्थे पञ्चमे चैव सत्पमे नवमे तथा । अस्थिसंचयनं प्रोक्तं वर्णानामनुपूर्वशः ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

caturthe pañcame caiva satpame navame tathā | asthisaṃcayanaṃ proktaṃ varṇānāmanupūrvaśaḥ || 85 ||

Translation

Việc thu nhặt hài cốt sau hỏa táng được dạy rằng nên làm vào ngày thứ tư, thứ năm, thứ bảy và thứ chín—lần lượt theo thứ tự dành cho bốn varṇa.

Word by Word

• caturthe: on the fourth
• caturthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); (elliptic: ahni)

• pañcame: on the fifth
• pañcame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); (elliptic: ahni)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• saptame: on the seventh
• saptame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); (elliptic: ahni)

• navame: on the ninth
• navame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); (elliptic: ahni)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• asthi-saṃcayanam: collection of bones
• asthi-saṃcayanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃcayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• proktam: is said/declared
• proktam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√vac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative with asthisaṃcayanam

• varṇānām: of the social classes (varṇas)
• varṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anupūrvaśaḥ: in proper sequence
• anupūrvaśaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anupūrvaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), distributive ‘in due order’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 frames asthi-saṃcayana as a regulated saṃskāra: an orderly completion of antyeṣṭi that supports śānti (ritual peace) for the departed and dharmic discipline for the family.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a bhakta’s life of niyama (scriptural observance): devotion is expressed through careful performance of prescribed duties, including last rites done with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: it specifies the timing (tithi/day-count) for a post-cremation rite, showing how dharma is applied through precise ceremonial scheduling.