Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

परेद्युः श्राद्धकृन्मर्त्यो यो न तर्पयते पितॄन् । तत्कुलं नाशमायाति ब्रह्महत्यां च विंदति ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

paredyuḥ śrāddhakṛnmartyo yo na tarpayate pitṝn | tatkulaṃ nāśamāyāti brahmahatyāṃ ca viṃdati || 81 ||

Translation

Kẻ phàm nhân làm lễ śrāddha vào ngày hôm trước mà không dâng tarpaṇa cho các Pitṛs, thì dòng tộc ấy đi đến suy vong, và mắc tội tương đương brahmahatyā (sát hại brāhmaṇa).

Word by Word

• परःद्युः: on the next day
• परःद्युः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परःद्युस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: on the next day)

• श्राद्धकृत्: one who performs śrāddha
• श्राद्धकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध + कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (doer of śrāddha)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal/man
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (apposition to श्राद्धकृत्)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

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

• तर्पयते: satisfies/propitiates
• तर्पयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु; तर्पय- causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (fathers)
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• तत्कुलम्: that family/lineage
• तत्कुलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-कुल (प्रातिपदिक; तत् + कुल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (goal)

• आयाति: comes to/reaches
• आयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्महत्याम्: the sin of brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + हत्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

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

• विन्दति: finds/incurs
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma-śāstra style within the Narada Purana narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

The verse asserts that śrāddha is not merely a formal rite; it must culminate in Pitṛ-tarpaṇa (libations/offerings that ‘satisfy’ the ancestors). Omitting tarpaṇa voids the intended spiritual nourishment to the Pitṛs and brings severe demerit affecting one’s lineage.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined dharma: honoring one’s Pitṛs through prescribed rites is part of righteous living that supports sattva and steadiness—foundational qualities for sustained Vishnu-bhakti emphasized throughout the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: the correct sequencing and completeness of śrāddha—including mandatory tarpaṇa—are treated as essential technical requirements, not optional additions.