Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

श्राद्धे नियोजयेद्विप्रं श्रोत्रिय विष्णुतत्परम् । यथास्वाचारनिरतं प्रशांतं सत्कुलोद्भवम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhe niyojayedvipraṃ śrotriya viṣṇutatparam | yathāsvācāranirataṃ praśāṃtaṃ satkulodbhavam || 6 ||

Translation

于Śrāddha仪中，当择任一位婆罗门：为通达吠陀之śrotriya，专心归敬毗湿奴，安住于本宗正行，性情寂静安和，且出自端正名门。

Word by Word

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha
• श्राद्धे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• नियोजयेत्: should appoint/engage
• नियोजयेत्: विधेय-क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘appoint/engage’ (णिच्-अर्थ)

• विप्रम्: a brahmin
• विप्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रियम्: learned in the Veda
• श्रोत्रियम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Vedic-learned/versed in śruti)

• विष्णु-तत्परम्: devoted to Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-तत्परम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णौ तत्परः)

• यथा-स्व-आचार-निरतम्: engaged in his own proper conduct (as appropriate)
• यथा-स्व-आचार-निरतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (यथास्वम्) + तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धः (स्वाचार-निरत)

• प्रशान्तम्: peaceful
• प्रशान्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + शम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘calmed/peaceful’

• सत्-कुल-उद्भवम्: born of a good family
• सत्-कुल-उद्भवम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सत्कुलात् उद्भवः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching śrāddha-dharma in a didactic passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that śrāddha bears fruit when performed with a qualified, disciplined, and serene Veda-trained brāhmaṇa who is devoted to Viṣṇu—linking ancestor rites with sāttvika conduct and Vaiṣṇava orientation.

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

By prioritizing a priest who is viṣṇu-tatpara (intent on Viṣṇu), the verse frames śrāddha not as mere ritualism but as an act aligned with Viṣṇu-bhakti, where devotion and purity of agency protect the rite’s sanctity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The term śrotriya implies competency in Vedic recitation and correct ritual application—skills grounded in Śikṣā (phonetics) and Kalpa (ritual procedure), ensuring mantras and rites are executed accurately.