Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

ऋतावभिगमः पत्न्यां शस्यते ब्राह्मणस्य वै । न कस्याप्यहितं ब्रूयाद्विष्णुपूजापरो भवेत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

ṛtāvabhigamaḥ patnyāṃ śasyate brāhmaṇasya vai | na kasyāpyahitaṃ brūyādviṣṇupūjāparo bhavet || 22 ||

Translation

Đối với một Bà-la-môn, việc gần gũi vợ chỉ vào đúng thời kỳ thích hợp thật đáng được tán dương. Chớ nói điều gây hại cho bất kỳ ai, và hãy chuyên tâm thờ phụng thần Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• ṛtau: in the proper season
• ṛtau: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• abhigamaḥ: approaching/intercourse
• abhigamaḥ: Karma (Subject of Passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhigama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• patnyām: unto the wife
• patnyām: Adhikarana (Target/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śasyate: is praised/recommended
• śasyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Passive Present (Karmani Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

• brāhmaṇasya: of a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• kasya: of anyone
• kasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• api: even/also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ahitam: harm/unpleasant thing
• ahitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brūyāt: should speak
• brūyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• viṣṇupūjāparaḥ: devoted to Vishnu worship
• viṣṇupūjāparaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇupūjāpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links household discipline (self-restraint in marital life), non-harmful speech, and Viṣṇu-worship as a unified dharmic path—purifying conduct and directing the mind toward bhakti.

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

Bhakti is presented as a steady orientation of life: ethical speech and regulated senses support single-pointed devotion—“viṣṇu-pūjā-paraḥ”—making worship the householders’ central practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual propriety and timing (kāla/ṛtu) is emphasized—an applied dharmic principle closely tied to traditional calendrical observance used in Vedic ritual life.