Shloka 18

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

तारयेत्स उभौ पक्षौ यत्पिंडो यस्य विग्रहः । न भार्याया भवेद्वीजं न भार्या कुक्षिधारिणी ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tārayetsa ubhau pakṣau yatpiṃḍo yasya vigrahaḥ | na bhāryāyā bhavedvījaṃ na bhāryā kukṣidhāriṇī || 18 ||

Translation

唯有此人能度脱两系——祖先与后裔——因为此身之形由祖先之团食（piṇḍa）所成。无妻则无种子，无妻亦无胎腹以怀子。

Word by Word

• तारयेत्: should deliver/save
• तारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन (dual); विशेषण

• पक्षौ: sides/parties
• पक्षौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन (dual)

• यत्: whose/that which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative connector)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पिण्डः: funeral ball/oblation (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of 'vigrahaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m/n), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (singular)

• विग्रहः: body/form
• विग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• भार्यायाः: of the wife
• भार्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (singular)

• भवेत्: would be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (singular)

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• कुक्षि-धारिणी: womb-bearer/pregnant bearer
• कुक्षि-धारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुक्षेः धारिणी)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue tradition attributed to Narada–Sanatkumara discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It frames household life as a dharmic support for lineage: through lawful marriage and progeny, one sustains and uplifts both ancestral continuity and future generations, linking embodiment to pitṛ-connection (piṇḍa).

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

Indirectly, it shows that bhakti and dharma are not opposed: fulfilling righteous household duties—especially those tied to lineage and ancestral rites—can be performed as an offering to the Lord, supporting a stable life for devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to dharma-śāstric and gṛhya (domestic-ritual) principles tied to saṃskāras and pitṛ-kriyā (ancestral rites), where marriage is foundational for legitimate progeny and related ritual obligations.