Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

चातुर्वर्ण्यारपेया स्यात्तथा स्त्रीभिश्च नारद । क्षीरं घृतं वा गोमूत्रमेतेष्वन्यतमं मुने ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

cāturvarṇyārapeyā syāttathā strībhiśca nārada | kṣīraṃ ghṛtaṃ vā gomūtrameteṣvanyatamaṃ mune || 24 ||

Translation

Hỡi Nārada, lễ hiến tế này có thể được thực hiện bởi cả bốn đẳng cấp varna, và cả phụ nữ nữa. Hỡi hiền giả, nó có thể được thực hiện với sữa, bơ lỏng (ghee) hoặc nước tiểu bò.

Word by Word

• चातुर्वर्ण्य: of the four social classes
• चातुर्वर्ण्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर्+वर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive singular neuter—‘of the four varṇas’

• अरपेया: (it) should be non-intoxicating / not ‘rape(y)ā’ (a non-liquor drink)
• अरपेया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरपेया (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + रपेया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular feminine

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular—‘should be’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument or agent-associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental plural—‘by/with women’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular neuter

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular neuter

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• गोमूत्रम्: cow’s urine
• गोमूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular neuter

• एतेषु: among these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; locative plural—‘among these’

• अन्यतमम्: any one (of them)
• अन्यतमम्: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्यतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular neuter—‘any one (of them)’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and inclusivity in dharma-practice: the prescribed libation may be undertaken broadly (all four varṇas and women) using sanctifying substances associated with śauca (milk, ghee, or gomūtra).

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

While primarily ritual in nature, it supports bhakti indirectly by ensuring devotees are not barred from basic purificatory observances; such śauca-based rites prepare the practitioner for worship and devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and purity discipline (kalpa-style application) are implied—choosing an approved dravya (substance) for a specific rite, reflecting practical dharma-śāstra implementation rather than grammar or astrology.