Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga — Chapter 24
NarP 1 24.1
सूत उवाच एतन्निशम्य सनकोदितमप्रमेयं पुण्यं हरेर्दिनभवं निखिलोत्तमं च । पापौघशान्तिकरणं व्रतसारमेवं ब्रह्मात्मजः पुनरभाषत हर्षयुक्तः
sūta uvāca etanniśamya sanakoditamaprameyaṃ puṇyaṃ harerdinabhavaṃ nikhilottamaṃ ca / pāpaughaśāntikaraṇaṃ vratasāramevaṃ brahmātmajaḥ punarabhāṣata harṣayuktaḥ
Sūta said: Having heard this immeasurable, holy (account) declared by Sanaka — arising from the day of Hari, best of all, destroying the mass of sins, the very essence of vows — the son of Brahmā, filled with joy, spoke again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.2
नारद उवाच कथितं भवता सर्वं मुने तत्त्वार्थकोविद । व्रताख्यानं महापुण्यं यथावद्धरिभक्तिदम्
nārada uvāca kathitaṃ bhavatā sarvaṃ mune tattvārthakovida / vratākhyānaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ yathāvaddharibhaktidam
Nārada said: All has been told by you, O sage skilled in the meaning of truth — the greatly meritorious narration of the vow, duly (told), which bestows devotion to Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.3
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि वर्णाचचारविधिं मुने । तथा सर्वाश्रमाचारं प्रायश्चित्तविधिं तथा
idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi varṇācacāravidhiṃ mune / tathā sarvāśramācāraṃ prāyaścittavidhiṃ tathā
Now I wish to hear, O sage, the rules of conduct for the classes (varṇas), and likewise the conduct of all the stages of life (āśramas), and also the rules of expiation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.4
एतत्सर्वं महाभाग सर्वतत्त्वार्थकोविद । कृपया परया मह्यं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
etatsarvaṃ mahābhāga sarvatattvārthakovida / kṛpayā parayā mahyaṃ yathāvadvaktumarhasi
All this, O greatly fortunate one, skilled in the meaning of all truths, you ought to tell me duly, out of your supreme compassion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.5
सनक उवाच शृणुष्व मुनिशार्दूल यथा भक्तप्रियङ्करः । वर्णाश्रमाचारपरैः पूज्यते हरिरव्ययः
sanaka uvāca śṛṇuṣva muniśārdūla yathā bhaktapriyaṅkaraḥ / varṇāśramācāraparaiḥ pūjyate hariravyayaḥ
Sanaka said: Hear, O tiger among sages, how the imperishable Hari, who does what is dear to his devotees, is worshipped by those devoted to the conduct of the classes and stages of life.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.6
मन्वाद्यैरुदितं यच्च वर्णाश्रमनिबन्धनम् । तत्ते वक्ष्यामि विधिवद्भक्तो ऽसि त्वमधोक्षजे
manvādyairuditaṃ yacca varṇāśramanibandhanam / tatte vakṣyāmi vidhivadbhakto 'si tvamadhokṣaje
And that regulation of classes and stages of life which was declared by Manu and the others — that I shall tell you according to rule, for you are a devotee of Adhokṣaja.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.7
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चत्वार एव ते । वर्णा इति समाख्याता एतेषु ब्राह्मणो ऽधिकः
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścatvāra eva te / varṇā iti samākhyātā eteṣu brāhmaṇo 'dhikaḥ
Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — just these four are called the classes; among them the brāhmaṇa is the highest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.8
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या द्विजाः प्रोक्तास्त्रयस्ताथा । मातृतश्चोपनयनाद्दि जत्वं प्राप्यते त्रिभिः
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā dvijāḥ proktāstrayastāthā / mātṛtaścopanayanāddi jatvaṃ prāpyate tribhiḥ
And brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas — those three are called twice-born; by these three twice-born status is obtained from the mother and from the investiture (with the sacred thread).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.9
एतैर्वर्णैः सर्वधर्माः कार्या वर्णानुरुपतः । स्ववर्णधर्मत्यगेन पाषण्डः प्रोच्यते बुधैः
etairvarṇaiḥ sarvadharmāḥ kāryā varṇānurupataḥ / svavarṇadharmatyagena pāṣaṇḍaḥ procyate budhaiḥ
By these classes all religious duties are to be performed in accordance with their class; by abandoning the duty of one's own class one is called a heretic by the wise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.10
स्वगृह्यचोदितं कर्मद्विजः कुर्वन्कृती भवेत् । अन्यथा पतितो भूयात्सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः
svagṛhyacoditaṃ karmadvijaḥ kurvankṛtī bhavet / anyathā patito bhūyātsarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ
A twice-born man, performing the rites enjoined by his own domestic (gṛhya) manual, becomes accomplished; otherwise he would become fallen, excluded from all religious duty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.11
युगधर्मः परिगार्या वेर्णैरेतैर्यथोचितम् । देशाचारास्तथाग्राह्याः स्मृतिधर्माविरोधतः
yugadharmaḥ parigāryā verṇairetairyathocitam / deśācārāstathāgrāhyāḥ smṛtidharmāvirodhataḥ
The duty proper to the age (yuga) is to be observed by these classes as is fitting; likewise local customs are to be adopted, so long as they do not conflict with the duty (laid down) in the law-books.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.12
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यत्नाद्धर्ंमं समाचरेत् । अस्वर्ग्यं लोकविद्विष्टं धर्म्यमप्याचरेन्नतु
karmaṇā manasā vācā yatnāddharṃmaṃ samācaret / asvargyaṃ lokavidviṣṭaṃ dharmyamapyācarennatu
By act, mind and speech one should diligently practise righteousness; but one should not do what does not lead to heaven and is hated by people, even if it is lawful.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.13
समुद्रयात्रास्वीकारः कमण्डलुविधारणम् । द्विजानामसवर्णासु कन्या सूपयमस्तथा
samudrayātrāsvīkāraḥ kamaṇḍaluvidhāraṇam / dvijānāmasavarṇāsu kanyā sūpayamastathā
Undertaking a sea voyage; carrying a water-pot; marrying a girl of a different class for the twice-born;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.14
देवराच्च सुतोत्पत्तिर्मधुपर्के पशोर्वधः । मांसादनं तथा श्राद्धे वानप्रस्थआश्रमस्तथा
devarācca sutotpattirmadhuparke paśorvadhaḥ / māṃsādanaṃ tathā śrāddhe vānaprasthaāśramastathā
begetting a son by the husband's brother; killing an animal at the madhuparka (honey-offering) reception; eating meat at a śrāddha; likewise the forest-dweller's stage of life;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.15
दत्ताक्षतायाः कन्यायाः पुनर्दानं वराय च । नैष्टिकं ब्रह्मचर्यं च नरमेधाश्चमेधकौ
dattākṣatāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ punardānaṃ varāya ca / naiṣṭikaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca naramedhāścamedhakau
the giving again to a (second) bridegroom of a girl already given but untouched; lifelong celibacy; the human sacrifice and the horse sacrifice;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.16
महाप्रस्थानगमनं गोमेधश्च तथा मखः । एतान्धर्मान्कलियुके वर्ज्यानाहुर्मनीषिणः
mahāprasthānagamanaṃ gomedhaśca tathā makhaḥ / etāndharmānkaliyuke varjyānāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ
setting out on the Great Journey, and likewise the cow sacrifice — these practices the wise declare are to be avoided in the Kali age.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.17
देशाचाराः परिग्राह्यास्तत्तद्देशगतैर्नरैः । अन्यथा पतितो ज्ञेयः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः
deśācārāḥ parigrāhyāstattaddeśagatairnaraiḥ / anyathā patito jñeyaḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ
Local customs are to be adopted by men living in those respective regions; otherwise (a man) should be known as fallen, cast out from all duties.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.18
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च द्विजोत्तमा । क्रियाः सामान्यतो वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुष्व समाहितः
brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca dvijottamā / kriyāḥ sāmānyato vakṣye tacchṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ
O best of the twice-born, I shall declare in general terms the observances of brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, and of śūdras; listen to that with a collected mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.19
दानं दद्यार्द्वह्मणेभ्यस्तथा यज्ञैर्यजेत्सुरान् । वृत्त्यर्थं याचयेच्चैव अन्यानध्यापयेत्तथा
dānaṃ dadyārdvahmaṇebhyastathā yajñairyajetsurān / vṛttyarthaṃ yācayeccaiva anyānadhyāpayettathā
He should give gifts to brāhmaṇas, and likewise worship the gods with sacrifices; and for the sake of livelihood he may beg, and likewise he should teach others.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.20
याजयेद्यजने योग्यान्विप्रो नित्योदकी भवेत् । कुर्य्याच्च वेदग्रहणं तथाग्रेश्च परिग्रहम्
yājayedyajane yogyānvipro nityodakī bhavet / kuryyācca vedagrahaṇaṃ tathāgreśca parigraham
A brāhmaṇa should officiate at the sacrifices of those fit (to sacrifice), and should be constant in his ablutions; and he should undertake the study of the Veda and likewise the maintenance of the (sacred) fires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.21
ग्राह्येर् द्व्ये च पारक्ये समबुद्धिर्भवेत्तथा । सर्वलोकहितं कृर्यान्मृदुवाक्यमुदीरयेत्
grāhyer dvye ca pārakye samabuddhirbhavettathā / sarvalokahitaṃ kṛryānmṛduvākyamudīrayet
And he should be of equal mind toward his own property and another's; he should act for the welfare of all the world, and should utter gentle speech.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NarP 1 24.22
ऋतावभिगमः पत्न्यां शस्यते ब्राह्मणस्य वै । न कस्याप्यहितं ब्रूयाद्विष्णुपूजापरो भवेत्
ṛtāvabhigamaḥ patnyāṃ śasyate brāhmaṇasya vai / na kasyāpyahitaṃ brūyādviṣṇupūjāparo bhavet
Approaching his wife in her (proper) season is commended for a brāhmaṇa; he should speak nothing harmful to anyone, and should be devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.23
दद्याद्दानानि विप्रेभ्यः क्षत्रियो ऽपि द्विजोत्तम । कुर्य्याच्च वेदग्रहणं यज्ञैर्द्देवान्यजेत्तथा
dadyāddānāni viprebhyaḥ kṣatriyo 'pi dvijottama / kuryyācca vedagrahaṇaṃ yajñairddevānyajettathā
The kṣatriya too, O best of the twice-born, should give gifts to brāhmaṇas, and should undertake the study of the Veda, and likewise worship the gods with sacrifices.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.24
शस्त्राजीवी भवेच्चैव पालयेद्धर्मतो महीम् । दुष्टानां शासनं कुर्य्याच्छिष्टानां पालनं तथा
śastrājīvī bhaveccaiva pālayeddharmato mahīm / duṣṭānāṃ śāsanaṃ kuryyācchiṣṭānāṃ pālanaṃ tathā
And he should live by arms, and should protect the earth according to dharma; he should punish the wicked and likewise protect the well-behaved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.25
पाशुपाल्यं च वाणिज्यं कृंषिश्च द्विजसत्तम । वेदस्याध्ययनं चैव वैश्यस्यापि प्रकीर्त्तितम्
pāśupālyaṃ ca vāṇijyaṃ kṛṃṣiśca dvijasattama / vedasyādhyayanaṃ caiva vaiśyasyāpi prakīrttitam
Cattle-tending, trade and agriculture, O best of the twice-born, and also the study of the Veda, are declared to be the vaiśya's as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.26
कुर्याच्च दारग्रहणं धर्माश्चैव समाचरेत् । क्रयविक्रयजर्वापि धनैः कारुक्रियोद्भवैः
kuryācca dāragrahaṇaṃ dharmāścaiva samācaret / krayavikrayajarvāpi dhanaiḥ kārukriyodbhavaiḥ
And he should take a wife and should duly practise the religious duties, (living) by wealth arising from buying and selling or from the work of artisans.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NarP 1 24.27
दद्याद्दानानि शूद्रो ऽपि पाकयज्ञैर्यजेन्न च । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शुश्रूषानि रतो भवेत्
dadyāddānāni śūdro 'pi pākayajñairyajenna ca / brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śuśrūṣāni rato bhavet
The śūdra too may give gifts, but he should not sacrifice with the cooked-food offerings; he should be devoted to the service of brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.28
ऋतुकालाभिगामीच स्वदारेषु भवेत्तथा । सर्वलोकहितोषित्वं मङ्गलं प्रियवादिता
ṛtukālābhigāmīca svadāreṣu bhavettathā / sarvalokahitoṣitvaṃ maṅgalaṃ priyavāditā
And he should approach his own wife at the (proper) season; benefiting all the world, auspiciousness, speaking kindly—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.29
अनायासो मनोहर्षस्तितिक्षा नातिमानिता । सामान्यं सर्ववर्णानां मुनिभिः परिकीर्तितम्
anāyāso manoharṣastitikṣā nātimānitā / sāmānyaṃ sarvavarṇānāṃ munibhiḥ parikīrtitam
—freedom from agitation, gladness of mind, forbearance, absence of excessive pride: this has been declared by the sages to be common to all the classes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.30
सर्वे च मुनितां यान्ति स्वाश्रमोचितकर्मणा । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियाचारमाश्रयेदापदि द्विज
sarve ca munitāṃ yānti svāśramocitakarmaṇā / brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyācāramāśrayedāpadi dvija
And all attain the state of a sage through the action proper to their own stage of life. A brāhmaṇa may, in distress, resort to the conduct of a kṣatriya, O twice-born one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.31
क्षत्रियो ऽपि च विड्वृत्तिमत्यापदि समाश्रयेत् । नाश्रयेच्छूद्रवृत्तिं तु अत्यापद्यपि वै द्विजः
kṣatriyo 'pi ca viḍvṛttimatyāpadi samāśrayet / nāśrayecchūdravṛttiṃ tu atyāpadyapi vai dvijaḥ
And a kṣatriya, in extreme distress, may resort to the vaiśya's livelihood; but a twice-born should not resort to the śūdra's livelihood, even in the utmost distress.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.32
यद्याश्रयेद्दिजो मूढस्तदा चाण्डासतां व्रजेत् । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां त्रयाणां मुनिसत्तम
yadyāśrayeddijo mūḍhastadā cāṇḍāsatāṃ vrajet / brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ trayāṇāṃ munisattama
If a deluded twice-born should resort to it, he then goes to the condition of a cāṇḍāla. For the three—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas—O best of sages,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.33
चत्वार आश्रमाः प्रोक्ताः पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते । ब्रह्मचारी गृही वानप्रस्थो भिक्षुश्च सत्तम
catvāra āśramāḥ proktāḥ pañcamo nopapadyate / brahmacārī gṛhī vānaprastho bhikṣuśca sattama
four stages of life are declared; a fifth does not obtain: the celibate student, the householder, the forest-dweller, and the mendicant, O excellent one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.34
चतुर्भिराश्रमैरेभिः साध्यते धर्म उत्तमः । विष्णुस्तुष्यति विप्रेन्द्र कर्मयोगरतात्मनः
caturbhirāśramairebhiḥ sādhyate dharma uttamaḥ / viṣṇustuṣyati viprendra karmayogaratātmanaḥ
By these four stages of life the highest dharma is accomplished; Viṣṇu is pleased, O chief of brāhmaṇas, with one whose self is devoted to the discipline of (prescribed) action,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NarP 1 24.35
निःस्पृहाशान्तमनसः स्वकर्मनिरतस्य च । ततो याति परं स्थानं यतो नावर्त्तते पुनः
niḥspṛhāśāntamanasaḥ svakarmaniratasya ca / tato yāti paraṃ sthānaṃ yato nāvarttate punaḥ
with one free of longing, of tranquil mind, and intent upon his own duty; thence he goes to the supreme abode, from which he does not return again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition