Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्ता ये परान्नविमुखास्तथा । अन्नोदकप्रदातारो वहंति सततं हि माम् ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

pratigrahanivṛttā ye parānnavimukhāstathā | annodakapradātāro vahaṃti satataṃ hi mām || 64 ||

Translation

Wer sich vom Annehmen von Geschenken fernhält, die Speise anderer nicht verschmäht (Gastfreundschaft nicht zurückweist) und Nahrung sowie Wasser spendet—wahrlich, der trägt Mich stets in sich.

Word by Word

• प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्ताः: refraining from accepting gifts
• प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिग्रह-निवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; प्रतिग्रह + निवृत्त)
• Form: बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative); समासः प्रतिग्रहात् निवृत्ताः (refraining from accepting gifts)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural relative pronoun)

• परान्नविमुखाः: averse to others’ food
• परान्नविमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-अन्न-विमुख (प्रातिपदिक; पर + अन्न + विमुख)
• Form: बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative); समासः परान्ने विमुखाः (not inclined to others’ food; not eating others’ food)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb: ‘likewise’)

• अन्नोदकप्रदातारः: givers of food and water
• अन्नोदकप्रदातारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-उदक-प्रदाता (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + उदक + प्रदाता)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural); समासः अन्नं च उदकं च (dvandva) + प्रदाता (giver) → ‘giver of food and water’

• वहन्ति: carry/bear
• वहन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular pronoun)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadesha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner proximity to the Lord is cultivated through ethical restraint (not living by taking gifts) and compassion expressed as anna-dāna and udaka-dāna—basic, life-sustaining charity.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical devotion: honoring others’ offerings without contempt and serving living beings by giving food and water—actions that make the devotee a constant vessel of the Lord’s presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dharma-sūtra style applied ethics—rules of conduct around pratigraha (accepting gifts) and dāna (charity), guiding householders and renunciants in socially sustaining ritual-culture.