Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

अष्टमुष्टिर्भवेत् किञ्चित् पुष्कलं तच्चतुष्टयम् । पुष्कलानि तु चत्वारि पूर्णपात्रं विदुर्बुधाः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭamuṣṭirbhavet kiñcit puṣkalaṃ taccatuṣṭayam | puṣkalāni tu catvāri pūrṇapātraṃ vidurbudhāḥ || 44 ||

Translation

A “kiñcit” is understood to be eight handfuls; a “puṣkala” consists of four such measures. And four puṣkalas together are known by the learned as a “full vessel” (pūrṇa-pātra).

Word by Word

• अष्ट-मुष्टिः: eight handfuls
• अष्ट-मुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (‘अष्टौ मुष्टयः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (समाहार/परिमाणवाचक); ‘eight handfuls’

• भवेत्: would be/is (as a measure)
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किञ्चित्: somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘somewhat/a little’)

• पुष्कलम्: abundant/full
• पुष्कलम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘abundant/full’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of (अस्ति) understood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’

• चतुष्टयम्: a group of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘a set of four’

• पुष्कलानि: full measures (puṣkalas)
• पुष्कलानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘abundances/full measures’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier of पुष्कलानि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘four’

• पूर्ण-पात्रम्: the full-vessel measure
• पूर्ण-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—of विदुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘पूर्णं पात्रम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘full-vessel (measure)’

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘know’

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘the wise’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes precision and integrity in dharmic acts—offerings and charity should be given in properly defined measures, reflecting sincerity and order (ṛta) in ritual life.

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

While not directly devotional in wording, it supports bhakti-driven worship by standardizing quantities used in offerings, helping devotees perform pūjā and dana correctly and consistently.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical pramāṇa (measurement) used in ritual contexts—useful for kalpa-oriented procedure and correct execution of dana/offerings (a technical, ritual-science concern).