Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

रेतोभोजी भवेन्मर्त्यः सर्वलोकेषु निन्दितः । उपवासदिने राजन्दन्तधावनकृन्नरः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

retobhojī bhavenmartyaḥ sarvalokeṣu ninditaḥ | upavāsadine rājandantadhāvanakṛnnaraḥ || 95 ||

Translation

凡人若食精液，必为诸世界所讥嫌。又，王啊，若在持斋之日（upavāsa）行刷牙净齿，违犯斋戒之律者，同样可责。

Word by Word

• रेतः-भोजी: semen-eater
• रेतः-भोजी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to रेतः-भोजी

• सर्वलोकेषु: in all worlds
• सर्वलोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वलोक (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + लोक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• निन्दितः: condemned
• निन्दितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निन्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; निन्द् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• उपवासदिने: on a fasting day
• उपवासदिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवासदिन (प्रातिपदिक; उपवास + दिन)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• दन्त-धावन-कृत्: one who performs tooth-cleaning
• दन्त-धावन-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agent-noun 'doer of tooth-cleaning'

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to दन्त-धावन-कृत्

Speaker

Sage Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Upavāsa (generic fasting observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• King

FAQs

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

It stresses vrata-śuddhi (purity of observance): certain acts are treated as spiritually degrading or vow-breaking, leading to nindā (censure) and loss of merit from fasting.

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

By emphasizing disciplined conduct on sacred days, it supports bhakti as a regulated practice—devotion is strengthened when one protects the sanctity of vows and avoids actions considered impure or vow-damaging.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: it gives practical vrata-niyamas—what actions are permitted or prohibited during upavāsa to preserve the intended ritual and spiritual outcome.