Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

द्विजान्संघर्ष्य गोदोहं ततः प्रक्षाल्य पाटयेत् । जिह्वामुल्लिख्य ताभ्यां तु दलाभ्यां नियतेंद्रियः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

dvijānsaṃgharṣya godohaṃ tataḥ prakṣālya pāṭayet | jihvāmullikhya tābhyāṃ tu dalābhyāṃ niyateṃdriyaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

先摩拭净化圣洁的库沙草与挤奶之器，继而洗涤，并将草叶分作两片；制御诸根者，当轻刮舌面洁净，然后以此两片行仪。

Word by Word

• द्विजान्: the twice-born (teeth)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• संघर्ष्य: having rubbed
• संघर्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घर्ष् (धातु) [सम्+घर्ष्]
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having rubbed/abraded’

• गो-दोहम्: a cow-milking (measure/quantity)
• गो-दोहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + दोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः: गोः दोहः = ‘milking of a cow’ (measure)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (indecl.), क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb): ‘thereafter/then’

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षल् (धातु) [प्र+क्षल्]
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having washed’

• पाटयेत्: should split/open
• पाटयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पट्/पाट् (धातु) [णिच् causative: पाटय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative): ‘should split/tear/open’

• जिह्वाम्: the tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• उल्लिख्य: having scraped
• उल्लिख्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) [उद्+लिख्]
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having scraped’

• ताभ्याम्: with those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), द्विवचन (du.); ‘with those two’

• तु: and/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, निपात (particle): ‘but/and then’

• दलाभ्याम्: with the two leaves/petals
• दलाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), द्विवचन (du.)

• नियत-इन्द्रियः: one with controlled senses
• नियत-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (sg.); बहुव्रीहिः: नियतानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within a ritual-technical 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 emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) and self-restraint: external cleanliness of ritual materials is paired with internal discipline (niyatendriya), making the act fit for sacred performance.

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

Though procedural, it supports bhakti by teaching careful, reverent preparation—devotion is expressed through disciplined attention and purity while performing offerings connected with sacred substances like milk.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style prayoga (ritual method): preparing kuśa blades, washing implements, and maintaining bodily purity (e.g., cleansing the tongue) as part of correct ceremonial procedure.