Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

उभावप्यशुची स्यातां दम्पती याभसंगतौ । शयनादुत्थिता नारी शुचिः स्यादशुचिः पुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ubhāvapyaśucī syātāṃ dampatī yābhasaṃgatau | śayanādutthitā nārī śuciḥ syādaśuciḥ pumān || 16 ||

Translation

若夫妻行不当之交合，则二者皆为不净。然自睡眠起身之后，女子被视为清净，而男子被视为不净。

Word by Word

• उभाव्: both
• उभाव्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (du.)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अशुची: impure
• अशुची: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (du.)

• स्याताम्: should be
• स्याताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन (du.)

• दम्पती: the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (du.)

• याभसंगतौ: having had intercourse (lit. united in cohabitation)
• याभसंगतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याभ + संगत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (du.); समासः याभः + संगतौ (तत्पुरुष)

• शयनात्: from bed / after sleeping
• शयनात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (sg.)

• उत्थिता: having risen
• उत्थिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• नारी: the woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• पुमान्: the man
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-śāstra style section)

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 purity (śauca) as a prerequisite for dharmic life and ritual fitness, warning that misconduct creates aśauca that obstructs religious acts and disciplined living.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotion indirectly by emphasizing regulated conduct and cleanliness—conditions traditionally required for worship, japa, and temple or home pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/prayoga-type practical ritual discipline (rules of conduct and purity) used to determine eligibility for rites, daily observances, and household religious duties.