Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

धात्रीप्रमाणैर्हरैश्च मौक्तिकैर्दीप्तिसंयुतैः । प्रददौ संहतान्कृत्वा वलयान्पंच सप्त च ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

dhātrīpramāṇairharaiśca mauktikairdīptisaṃyutaiḥ | pradadau saṃhatānkṛtvā valayānpaṃca sapta ca || 42 ||

Translation

Er überreichte Armreife—fünf und sieben an der Zahl—zu einem Ganzen zusammengefügt und besetzt mit glänzenden Perlen sowie Edelsteinen der sogenannten dhātrī-Größe, strahlend vor Glanz.

Word by Word

• dhātrī-pramāṇaiḥ: with (items) of dhātrī-measure
• dhātrī-pramāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhātrī (प्रातिपदिक) + pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Pumliṅga (agreeing with haraiḥ/mauktikaiḥ), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; तत्पुरुषः ‘धात्री-प्रमाण’ = ‘nurse/earth-like measure’ (measure as of Dhātrī)

• haraiḥ: with diamonds/emeralds (haras)
• haraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• mauktikaiḥ: with pearls
• mauktikaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauktika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• dīpti-saṃyutaiḥ: endowed with brilliance
• dīpti-saṃyutaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpti (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त, √yuj)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; तत्पुरुषः ‘दीप्त्या संयुत’ qualifying mauktikaiḥ/haraiḥ

• pradadau: gave
• pradadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• saṃhatān: assembled / joined together
• saṃhatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃhata (कृदन्त, sam-√han/√hā?; ‘collected/compacted’)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; past participle used adjectivally qualifying valayān

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), avyaya; prior action

• valayān: bracelets/bangles
• valayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saṅkhyā (numeral), indeclinable in form; qualifying valayān

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (अव्यय/संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saṅkhyā (numeral), indeclinable in form; qualifying valayān

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account)

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 within a tīrtha-mahātmya setting: offering valuable, radiant gifts is portrayed as an act that supports merit (puṇya) and sacred hospitality, reinforcing the Purana’s emphasis on pilgrim-ethics and generosity.

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

While not explicitly devotional in wording, the act of reverently offering precious items functions as bhakti-in-action—honoring the sacred (and those connected to it) through selfless giving, a common Purāṇic expression of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa-oriented ritual culture is implied: the verse reflects how gifts (dāna) and auspicious items are specified by measure and quality, aligning with practical norms of ceremonial giving rather than technical jyotiṣa or vyākaraṇa.