Shloka 37

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

कांचनस्य ददौ लक्षमेकैकं प्रतिमातरम् । दासानां च शतं साग्रं दासीनां च नृपात्मजः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

kāṃcanasya dadau lakṣamekaikaṃ pratimātaram | dāsānāṃ ca śataṃ sāgraṃ dāsīnāṃ ca nṛpātmajaḥ || 37 ||

Translation

Der Königssohn gab jedem einen Lakh Gold; dazu schenkte er mehr als hundert männliche Diener und mehr als hundert Dienerinnen.

Word by Word

• काञ्चनस्य: of gold
• काञ्चनस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• लक्षम्: a lakh
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• एकैकम्: each (one)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); distributive ‘each’ qualifying ‘lakṣam’

• प्रतिमातरम्: per mother (each)
• प्रतिमातरम्: Prakara-adhikarana (प्रकार-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; ‘per mother/for each mother’ (distributive)

• दासानाम्: of male servants
• दासानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• साग्रम्: with an extra (over)
• साग्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘śatam’

• दासीनाम्: of female servants
• दासीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• नृपात्मजः: the king’s son
• नृपात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a Tirtha-Mahatmya account in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights dāna (charitable giving) as a dharmic act that generates puṇya, especially when performed in a sacred narrative setting (tīrtha/mahatmya context).

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

While the verse is primarily about charity, such generosity is presented in Purāṇic dharma as supportive of bhakti—purifying wealth and intention so offerings and service align with devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it instead illustrates the dharma practice of dāna and the social-ritual culture of gifting.