Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

परान्नलोलुपं चैव परस्त्रीनिरतं तथा । व्रतोपवासनिरतो वाङ्मात्रेणापि नार्चयेत् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

parānnalolupaṃ caiva parastrīnirataṃ tathā | vratopavāsanirato vāṅmātreṇāpi nārcayet || 28 ||

Translation

Người tham lam thức ăn của kẻ khác, mê đắm vợ người, hoặc chỉ mải mê giới nguyện và nhịn ăn mà thiếu thanh tịnh nội tâm, thì không nên thờ phụng Đức Chúa, dù chỉ bằng lời nói suông.

Word by Word

• पर-अन्न-लोलुपम्: one greedy for others’ food
• पर-अन्न-लोलुपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (accusative singular neuter adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पर-स्त्री-निरतम्: one devoted to another’s wife
• पर-स्त्री-निरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (accusative singular neuter)

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• व्रत-उपवास-निरतः: engaged in vows and fasting
• व्रत-उपवास-निरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (nominative singular masculine)

• वाक्-मात्रेण: by mere words
• वाक्-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘वाक्’ + ‘मात्र’ = ‘केवल-वचन’ (instrumental singular)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should worship’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not validated by ritual performance alone; without ethical restraint—freedom from greed and sexual misconduct—devotion becomes hollow and should not be offered even verbally.

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

Bhakti here is presented as character-based: true devotion requires inner discipline and moral purity, not just external practices like fasting or taking vows.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Kalpa/ācāra principles (ritual eligibility and conduct): archana is meaningful only when supported by śauca (purity) and self-restraint, otherwise it is to be avoided.