Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

ऋतौ तु गर्भं शङ्कित्वा स्नानं मैथुनिनः स्मृतम् । अनॄतौ तु स्त्रियं गत्वा शौचं मूत्रपुरीषवत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

ṛtau tu garbhaṃ śaṅkitvā snānaṃ maithuninaḥ smṛtam | anṝtau tu striyaṃ gatvā śaucaṃ mūtrapurīṣavat || 15 ||

Translation

若在女子可孕之期行房，当念及受胎之可能，事后应沐浴——此为行淫者所传之规。若在非其时而近女，则所需净化如同小便与大便之后之洁净法。

Word by Word

• ऋतौ: in the (fertile) season / during menstruation period (contextual)
• ऋतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• गर्भम्: pregnancy/embryo
• गर्भम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• शङ्कित्वा: having suspected
• शङ्कित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शङ्क् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having suspected)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; prescribed act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• मैथुनिनः: of one who has had intercourse
• मैथुनिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्मृतम्: is prescribed/declared
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate; nominal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); विधेय-भावे (as ‘is prescribed/remembered’)

• अनृतौ: out of season
• अनृतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.); नञ्-पूर्वक (a-nṛtau = not in season)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• गत्वा: having gone to/approached
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having gone/approached)

• शौचम्: purification/cleanliness rite
• शौचम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; prescribed act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• मूत्रपुरीषवत्: like (in the case of) urine and feces
• मूत्रपुरीषवत्: Upamana (उपमान/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूत्र + पुरीष + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: -वत् used adverbially)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames bodily conduct within dharma by linking sexual activity to prescribed purification (śauca), emphasizing disciplined living and ritual cleanliness as supports for inner purity.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life indirectly by prescribing orderly, sattvic conduct for householders—cleanliness and restraint are treated as conducive foundations for worship and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis (kalpa-style śauca rules) is highlighted—practical regulations on when bathing is required and how purification differs based on ritu (proper season) versus anritu (improper time).