Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञमाली सुधीर्विप्र सदा धर्मरतोऽभवेत् । अवारितं ददावन्नं सत्सङ्गगतकल्मषः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

yajñamālī sudhīrvipra sadā dharmarato'bhavet | avāritaṃ dadāvannaṃ satsaṅgagatakalmaṣaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

على البرهمن الحكيم، المتزيّن بإكليل اليَجْنَة، أن يلازم الدَّرما على الدوام؛ وليهب الطعام بلا منعٍ لمن قصده، فإن بصحبة الصالحين تُغسَل الآثام وتزول الأدران.

Word by Word

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī
• यज्ञमाली: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpuruṣa: ‘one having a garland (name) related to sacrifice’; proper name

• सुधीः: wise
• सुधीः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; ‘wise’

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन — Vocative singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय — adverb ‘always’

• धर्मरतः: devoted to righteousness
• धर्मरतः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpuruṣa: ‘devoted to dharma’

• अभवेत्: became / would be
• अभवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Potential/Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘would become/should be’

• अवारितम्: without hindrance
• अवारितम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवारित (प्रातिपदिक; a- + वारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘unrestrained/without refusal’ qualifying ‘अन्नम्’ or manner of giving

• ददौ: he gave
• ददौ: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Perfect: ‘he gave’

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• सत्सङ्गगतकल्मषः: one whose sin was removed by holy company
• सत्सङ्गगतकल्मषः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose impurity (kalmaṣa) has gone due to association with the good (sat-saṅga)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadeśa sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It links three purifiers—yajña-oriented life, constant dharma, and anna-dāna—showing that generosity supported by saintly association removes kalmaṣa (inner impurity) and stabilizes spiritual merit.

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

While not naming a deity here, it highlights sat-saṅga and selfless giving—core supports of bhakti—because serving beings with an open hand and keeping company with the virtuous naturally turns the mind toward devotion and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily dharma-śāstra oriented rather than technical Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is ritual-ethics: anna-dāna as an essential daily duty associated with yajña-style living (yajña as disciplined sacred action).