Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

शूद्रा णां पतितानां च खरादीनां च नारद । दृष्टिदोषविनाशार्थं पात्राणां प्रोक्षणं स्मृतम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

śūdrā ṇāṃ patitānāṃ ca kharādīnāṃ ca nārada | dṛṣṭidoṣavināśārthaṃ pātrāṇāṃ prokṣaṇaṃ smṛtam || 42 ||

Translation

噢那罗陀，若器皿为首陀罗、堕落者（patita），或驴等畜类所见，经典忆念：当以圣水洒净（prokṣaṇa），以灭除由其目光所生之不净。

Word by Word

• शूद्राणाम्: of Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of śūdras’

• पतितानाम्: of the fallen (outcast)
• पतितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पत् धातु + त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the fallen/outcast’

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

• खर-आदीनाम्: of donkeys and the like
• खर-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘खरादयः’ = donkey etc.); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of donkeys and the like’

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

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

• दृष्टि-दोष-विनाश-अर्थम्: for destroying the defect of (evil) sight
• दृष्टि-दोष-विनाश-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/उद्देश्यवाचक समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण ‘for the purpose of destroying the defect of sight (evil eye)’

• पात्राणाम्: of the vessels
• पात्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of vessels/utensils’

• प्रोक्षणम्: sprinkling (purificatory sprinkling)
• प्रोक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of स्मृतम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-उक्ष् (धातु) + अन (कृत्) → प्रोक्षण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक कृदन्त (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sprinkling’

• स्मृतम्: is prescribed/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत्) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘is remembered/declared (in tradition)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames ritual purity (śauca) as a supportive discipline within mokṣa-dharma: even subtle impurities like dṛṣṭidoṣa are addressed through simple purification (prokṣaṇa), helping maintain sanctity in worship and offerings.

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

By prescribing purification of vessels used in sacred acts, it protects the integrity of pūjā and naivedya; clean ritual instruments are treated as part of respectful service (sevā) offered to the deity in bhakti practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual procedure (kalpa-prayoga) and śauca-vidhi: the practical rule that sprinkling consecrated water is a recognized method for restoring fitness of utensils for rites after contact through sight.