Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

यज्ञमाली पुनस्चापि बिभिदे स्वधनं द्विधा । आददे स्वयमर्द्धं च ददावर्द्धं यवीयसे ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yajñamālī punascāpi bibhide svadhanaṃ dvidhā | ādade svayamarddhaṃ ca dadāvarddhaṃ yavīyase || 11 ||

Translation

ثم إن يَجْنَمَالِي عاد فقسّم ماله قسمين: أمسك نصفه لنفسه، وأعطى النصف الآخر لأخيه الأصغر.

Word by Word

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī
• यज्ञमाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

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

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

• बिभिदे: divided/split
• बिभिदे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्व-धनम्: his own wealth
• स्व-धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (one's own + wealth)

• द्विधा: in two
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: into two parts)

• आददे: took/accepted
• आददे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ- (आ + दा)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: himself)

• अर्द्धम्: half
• अर्द्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्द्धम्: half
• अर्द्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यवीयसे: to the younger (brother)
• यवीयसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of युवा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-प्रातिपदिक (comparative)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the episode (as part of the Narada Purana narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic stewardship of wealth—treating possessions as something to be shared responsibly, especially with dependents and family, cultivating non-greed and fairness.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti here, the verse supports bhakti through dharma: generosity and self-restraint purify the heart, making one fit for devotion and higher spiritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is dharma in conduct rather than a specific Vedanga: correct household ethics (sadācāra) and the disciplined use of wealth, which supports ritual life (yajña/dāna) in a Vedic framework.