Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

ऋतावभिगमः पत्न्यां शस्यते ब्राह्मणस्य वै । न कस्याप्यहितं ब्रूयाद्विष्णुपूजापरो भवेत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

ṛtāvabhigamaḥ patnyāṃ śasyate brāhmaṇasya vai | na kasyāpyahitaṃ brūyādviṣṇupūjāparo bhavet || 22 ||

Translation

对婆罗门而言，只在适当时节亲近妻子，确为所称许。不可对任何人说有害之言，并应专心奉事毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）。

Word by Word

• ṛtau: in the proper season
• ṛtau: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• abhigamaḥ: approaching/intercourse
• abhigamaḥ: Karma (Subject of Passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhigama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• patnyām: unto the wife
• patnyām: Adhikarana (Target/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śasyate: is praised/recommended
• śasyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Passive Present (Karmani Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

• brāhmaṇasya: of a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• kasya: of anyone
• kasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• api: even/also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ahitam: harm/unpleasant thing
• ahitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brūyāt: should speak
• brūyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• viṣṇupūjāparaḥ: devoted to Vishnu worship
• viṣṇupūjāparaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇupūjāpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links household discipline (self-restraint in marital life), non-harmful speech, and Viṣṇu-worship as a unified dharmic path—purifying conduct and directing the mind toward bhakti.

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

Bhakti is presented as a steady orientation of life: ethical speech and regulated senses support single-pointed devotion—“viṣṇu-pūjā-paraḥ”—making worship the householders’ central practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual propriety and timing (kāla/ṛtu) is emphasized—an applied dharmic principle closely tied to traditional calendrical observance used in Vedic ritual life.