Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शौचं तु द्विविधं प्रोक्तं ब्राह्ममाभ्यंतरं तथा । मृज्जलाभ्यां बहिः शुद्धिर्भावशुद्धिस्तथांतरम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śaucaṃ tu dvividhaṃ proktaṃ brāhmamābhyaṃtaraṃ tathā | mṛjjalābhyāṃ bahiḥ śuddhirbhāvaśuddhistathāṃtaram || 9 ||

Translation

所谓净行（śauca）被宣说为两种：外净与内净，实为梵行之修持，能提升灵性。外净以土（净泥/灰）与水而成；内净则是净化 bhāva——内心情意与意向。

Word by Word

• śaucam: purity/cleanliness
• śaucam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (or Accusative) Singular; topic/subject

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• dvi-vidham: twofold
• dvi-vidham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeral compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifies śaucam

• proktam: is stated
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) + ta (क्त) → prokta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicative: ‘is said’

• brāhmam: Brahmic (inner)
• brāhmam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; one kind (of śauca)

• ābhyantaram: internal
• ābhyantaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ābhyantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; appositional to brāhmam

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण/निपात)

• mṛt-jalābhyām: by earth (clay) and water
• mṛt-jalābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘mṛt ca jalaṃ ca’; Dual (द्विवचन), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया)

• bahiḥ: externally
• bahiḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative, Singular

• bhāva-śuddhiḥ: purity of mind/intent
• bhāva-śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘bhāvasya śuddhiḥ’; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb

• antaram: internal
• antaram: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate: ‘(is) internal’ (elliptic with śuddhiḥ)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines śauca as both bodily cleanliness and inner moral-spiritual clarity, emphasizing that true purity is completed only when external cleansing is matched by purified intention (bhāvaśuddhi).

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

Bhakti matures through inner purity: when motives, emotions, and intentions are cleansed (bhāvaśuddhi), worship and japa become sincere rather than merely ritual, aligning the heart with the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights āhnika/ācāra-based ritual hygiene: the practical use of water and purifying earth substances for external śuddhi, a foundational prerequisite for many Vedic and smārta rites.