Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

दिवासूर्यांशुसंतत्पं रात्रौ नक्षत्रमारुतैः । मध्ययोरप्युभाभ्यां च पवित्रं सर्वदा जलम् ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

divāsūryāṃśusaṃtatpaṃ rātrau nakṣatramārutaiḥ | madhyayorapyubhābhyāṃ ca pavitraṃ sarvadā jalam || 91 ||

Translation

白昼之时，水为日光所炙；夜晚之时，水受星下之风所感。并且在二者交替的间隙之中亦然——水恒常清净。

Word by Word

• दिवा-सूर्य-अंशु-संतप्तम्: heated by sunrays in the daytime
• दिवा-सूर्य-अंशु-संतप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक) + संतप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः (अर्थतः ‘दिवा सूर्यांशुभिः संतप्तम्’ = heated by sunrays by day)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, Locative), एकवचन

• नक्षत्र-मारुतैः: by breezes (under the stars)
• नक्षत्र-मारुतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः (अर्थतः ‘नक्षत्रसम्बद्धैः मारुतैः’ = by star-winds/cool breezes under stars)

• मध्ययोः: in the two mid-times (twilight periods)
• मध्ययोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th case), द्विवचन; ‘of/in the two middles’ (between day & night)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• उभाभ्याम्: by both (factors)
• उभाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘by both’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पवित्रम्: pure
• पवित्रम्: Pradhāna/Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Nakshatra

FAQs

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

It establishes jala (water) as intrinsically purifying across all times—day, night, and the transitional periods—supporting its central role in shaucha, snana, and achamana within dharma.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by affirming that the basic medium of purification—water—remains fit for worship and daily Vishnu-oriented rites at all times.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a time-based ritual principle connected to Jyotisha (nakshatra/time awareness) and Kalpa (ritual procedure): despite differing celestial and atmospheric conditions, water is treated as consistently purifying for prescribed acts.