Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

उत्पाद्य पुत्रपौत्रांश्च वन्याश्रमपदे वसेत् । तानेवाग्नीन्यथान्यायं पूजयन्नतिथिप्रियः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

utpādya putrapautrāṃśca vanyāśramapade vaset | tānevāgnīnyathānyāyaṃ pūjayannatithipriyaḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Having begotten sons and grandsons, one should dwell in the forest āśrama (vānaprastha). Delighting in the reception of guests, he should duly honor those very sacred fires according to proper rule.

Word by Word

• उत्पाद्य: having begotten/produced
• उत्पाद्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्पाद्य (कृदन्त; उत्-√पद्/√पाद् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (absolutive/gerund): ‘having produced’

• पुत्र: sons
• पुत्र: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• पौत्रान्: grandsons
• पौत्रान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वन्य: forest (related)
• वन्य: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (compound member); ‘वनसम्बन्धी’

• आश्रम: stage of life/āśrama
• आश्रम: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• पदे: in the state of the forest-āśrama
• पदे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: वन्य-आश्रम-पद (in the position/state of forest āśrama)

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अग्नीन्: fires
• अग्नीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यथा: according to
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• न्यायम्: proper rule
• न्यायम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे

• पूजयन्: worshipping
• पूजयन्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूजयत् (कृदन्त; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मुख्यक्रियायाः सह (while worshipping)

• अतिथिप्रियः: fond of guests
• अतिथिप्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिथि-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (atithīnām priyaḥ / fond of guests)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Moksha-Dharma/āśrama conduct)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames vānaprastha as a dharmic transition after fulfilling family obligations, emphasizing disciplined ritual life (honoring the sacred fires) and inner purification through regulated conduct.

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

By highlighting atithi-priya (love of serving guests) and reverence for sacred fires, it points to devotion expressed as service, reverence, and daily sacred duty—practical bhakti through selfless honoring of dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual propriety—“yathā-nyāyam” implies correct procedure and timing in fire-rites, aligning with Kalpa (ritual discipline) and supporting knowledge of mantras/prayoga as used in household-to-forest āśrama practice.