Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भोजयेन्मधुरैर्भोज्यैर्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् । दीर्घमायुरवाप्नोति वांछितां विंदति श्रियम् ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

bhojayenmadhurairbhojyairbrāhmaṇānvedapāragān | dīrghamāyuravāpnoti vāṃchitāṃ viṃdati śriyam || 123 ||

Translation

Indem man vedakundige Brāhmaṇas mit süßen und wohlschmeckenden Speisen bewirtet, erlangt man langes Leben und findet den ersehnten Wohlstand (śrī).

Word by Word

• भोजयेत्: one should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु; causative/णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: “cause to eat/feed”), परस्मैपद

• मधुरैः: with sweet
• मधुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental plural: “with sweet…”)

• भोज्यैः: foods/edibles
• भोज्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (कृदन्त; भुज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (edibles/food items)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• वेद: Veda
• वेद: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• पारगान्: well-versed (in the Vedas)
• पारगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāra-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; समास: वेद-पारग (तत्पुरुष: “gone to the far shore of the Veda” = well-versed)

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āyuḥ)

• आयुः: life-span
• आयुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (object of avāpnoti)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाञ्छिताम्: desired
• वाञ्छिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāñchita (कृदन्त; वाञ्छ् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (desired)

• विन्दति: finds/obtains
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रियम्: prosperity/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Vedas
• Śrī (prosperity/Lakṣmī principle)

FAQs

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

It presents annadāna (offering food) to Veda-mastered brāhmaṇas as a dharmic act that generates puṇya, yielding both longevity and auspicious prosperity (śrī) as its fruit.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity, it supports bhakti through sevā: honoring sacred knowledge-bearers with humble service and generosity, a core devotional ethic that purifies intention and attracts auspiciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the applied side of Vedic discipline—proper dāna/annadāna within dharma-rites—where the worthiness of recipients (veda-pāraga brāhmaṇas) and the appropriate offering are emphasized as key ritual considerations.