Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

अपण्यविक्रयं चक्रे तथा च रसविक्रयम् । चण्डालाद्यैरपि तथा सम्भाषी तत्प्रतिग्रही ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

apaṇyavikrayaṃ cakre tathā ca rasavikrayam | caṇḍālādyairapi tathā sambhāṣī tatpratigrahī || 12 ||

Translation

他从事不当之物的买卖，又贩卖醉人之酒；甚至与旃陀罗等贱民交谈，并且也接受他们的馈赠。

Word by Word

• अपण्यविक्रयम्: sale of forbidden goods
• अपण्यविक्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + पण्या + विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अपण्यस्य विक्रयः’ / ‘अपण्य-विक्रय’ = selling what should not be sold

• चक्रे: did/undertook
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• रसविक्रयम्: sale of liquids/juices (rasas)
• रसविक्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस + विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘रसस्य विक्रयः’

• चण्डालाद्यैः: with chāṇḍālas and others
• चण्डालाद्यैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘चण्डालाः आदयः येषां ते’ = with chāṇḍālas and others

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• सम्भाषी: (he) conversed
• सम्भाषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्तिन्/क्त-प्राय प्रयोगः; adjectival past/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सम्भाषी’ = one who conversed/spoke with

• तत्: that/also
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of प्रतिग्रही)

• प्रतिग्रही: acceptor (of gifts)
• प्रतिग्रही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (णिन्/इन्-प्रत्यय; agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रतिग्रही’ = receiver/acceptor (of gifts)

Speaker

Narada (narrating ethical decline in a dharma-context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Chandala

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma grows through impure livelihood—selling prohibited items, trading in intoxicants, and indiscriminate acceptance of gifts—leading to loss of inner purity and dharmic merit.

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

Bhakti in the Narada Purana is supported by purity of conduct; this verse implies that devotion to Vishnu is weakened when one sustains oneself through forbidden trade and morally compromising associations and acceptances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmashastra-style application of Vedic norms—especially rules about ājīvikā (right livelihood) and pratigraha (accepting gifts)—rather than a technical Vedanga like Vyakarana or Jyotisha.