Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

आपो देवगणाः प्रोक्ता आपः पितृगणास्तथा । तस्मादस्य जलं देयं पितॄणां हितमिच्छता ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

āpo devagaṇāḥ proktā āpaḥ pitṛgaṇāstathā | tasmādasya jalaṃ deyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ hitamicchatā || 90 ||

Translation

Waters are proclaimed to be hosts of the gods, and likewise waters are hosts of the Pitṛs. Therefore, one who seeks the welfare of the Pitṛs should offer water to them.

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (plural tantum)

• देव-गणाः: hosts of gods
• देव-गणाः: Pradhāna/Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘देवानां गणाः’)

• प्रोक्ताः: are declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘are said/declared’

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• पितृ-गणाः: hosts of ancestors
• पितृ-गणाः: Pradhāna/Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘पितॄणां गणाः’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th case, Ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore/from that’

• अस्य: of this (person/rite)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अदस्? (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of this/of him’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘to be given/should be given’

• पितॄणाम्: to/for the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), बहुवचन

• हितम्: welfare
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘welfare/benefit’

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by one who desires’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

The verse identifies water as a sacred medium connected to both Devas and Pitṛs, teaching that offering water (tarpana/jala) is a direct, dharmic act for promoting ancestral welfare.

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

While primarily a ritual-dharma instruction, it supports bhakti through reverent service to sacred order (ṛta)—honoring Devas and Pitṛs with water offerings as an expression of faith, gratitude, and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) relevant to śrāddha/tarpaṇa: the use of water as the prescribed offering-medium for Pitṛ-kārya within Vedic ritual discipline.