Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

विप्रैकं भोजयेच्चापि तस्मै दत्त्वा च दक्षिणाम् । विसर्जयेत्ततः पश्चात्स्वयं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

vipraikaṃ bhojayeccāpi tasmai dattvā ca dakṣiṇām | visarjayettataḥ paścātsvayaṃ bhuñjīta vāgyataḥ || 55 ||

Translation

One should feed a single brāhmaṇa; having given him the prescribed honorarium (dakṣiṇā), one should then respectfully send him off. After that, one may eat oneself, observing restraint of speech.

Word by Word

• विप्र-एकम्: one brāhmaṇa
• विप्र-एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; Accusative singular (‘one brāhmaṇa’)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोजय (णिजन्त)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-रूपम् (injunctive/optative sense in vidhi); परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; causative: ‘should cause to eat/feed’

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थः (also/even)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान), एकवचनम्; Dative singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वान्त, अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (gerund): ‘having given’

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

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-रूपम् (vidhi); परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should dismiss/send off’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्: ‘then’

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (afterwards)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; आत्मवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (oneself)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should eat’

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘speech-restrained’; adjective to implied subject

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jayā-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches the correct dhārmic sequence for concluding a religious act: honor a brāhmaṇa with food and dakṣiṇā, send him off respectfully, and only then eat oneself with self-control—showing humility, gratitude, and discipline.

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

Though procedural, it supports bhakti by cultivating seva (service), reverence, and inner restraint; disciplined conduct (especially vāg-yama) purifies the mind, making devotion steadier and less ego-driven.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual discipline: the practical rule of sequence—bhojana, dakṣiṇā, visarjana, then one’s own meal—along with the niyama of controlled speech during sacred observances.