Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

आचार्यं वस्त्रभूषाद्यैस्तोषयेत्स्निग्धमानसः । भोजयेन्मिष्टपक्वान्नैर्द्विजानन्यांश्च शक्तितः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ācāryaṃ vastrabhūṣādyaistoṣayetsnigdhamānasaḥ | bhojayenmiṣṭapakvānnairdvijānanyāṃśca śaktitaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

স্নেহভৰা মনেৰে আচার্যক বস্ত্ৰ, ভূষণ আদি দি সন্তুষ্ট কৰিব লাগে; আৰু সামৰ্থ্য অনুসাৰে দ্বিজ আৰু অন্যসকলক মিঠা আৰু ভালদৰে সিজোৱা অন্নে ভোজন কৰাব লাগে।

Word by Word

• आचार्यम्: the teacher
• आचार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वस्त्रभूषाद्यैः: with clothes, ornaments, etc.
• वस्त्रभूषाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र+भूषा+आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (वस्त्र-भूषा) + आदि-समाहार (etc.)

• तोषयेत्: should please
• तोषयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्निग्धमानसः: with a kindly mind (being affectionate-minded)
• स्निग्धमानसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध+मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य मानसः स्निग्धः सः) — 'one whose mind is affectionate'

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्/भोजय् (णिजन्त; धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative: 'cause to eat')

• मिष्टपक्वान्नैः: with sweet cooked foods
• मिष्टपक्वान्नैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट+पक्व+अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मिष्टं च पक्वं च अन्नम्)

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्विजान्)

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

• शक्तितः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); यथाशक्ति (according to ability)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acharya
• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma is fulfilled through respectful service to the guru and charitable feeding, performed with genuine affection and humility rather than mere display.

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

By emphasizing a loving heart (snigdha-mānasaḥ), it frames outward acts—honoring the teacher and feeding others—as expressions of inner devotion and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual discipline (proper conduct of giving and feeding in rites), stressing proportionate giving (śaktitaḥ) and the etiquette of honoring qualified recipients.