Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

सदक्षिणं च विप्राय दद्याद्वै तण्डुलाढकम् । प्राणरुपी महाविष्णुः प्राणदः सर्ववल्लभः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

sadakṣiṇaṃ ca viprāya dadyādvai taṇḍulāḍhakam | prāṇarupī mahāviṣṇuḥ prāṇadaḥ sarvavallabhaḥ || 47 ||

Translation

One should indeed give to a brāhmaṇa a measure (āḍhaka) of rice together with the prescribed fee (dakṣiṇā). Mahāviṣṇu, who abides in the form of the life-breath (prāṇa), is the giver of life and the beloved of all.

Word by Word

• स-दक्षिणम्: together with a fee (dakṣiṇā)
• स-दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः ‘स’ (=सहित) + दक्षिणा → ‘सदक्षिणम्’ = दक्षिणासहितम्

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• विप्राय: to a Brahmin
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/assurance)

• तण्डुल-आढकम्: an āḍhaka-measure of rice
• तण्डुल-आढकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल + आढक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तण्डुलानाम् आढकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्राण-रूपी: having the form of prāṇa (life-breath)
• प्राण-रूपी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—प्राणरूपः यस्य/प्राणरूपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ)

• महाविष्णुः: Great Vishnu
• महाविष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् विष्णुः

• प्राण-दः: giver of life-breath
• प्राण-दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—प्राणान् ददाति इति

• सर्व-वल्लभः: beloved of all
• सर्व-वल्लभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां वल्लभः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahavishnu
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links practical charity (annadāna with dakṣiṇā to a brāhmaṇa) to Viṣṇu-centered spirituality, affirming that the same Mahāviṣṇu pervades beings as prāṇa and is pleased by dharmic giving.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through praise and worship but also through reverent service—supporting sacred learning and livelihood (vipra-sevā) and offering food, while remembering Viṣṇu as the indwelling life-breath.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is emphasized through dāna-vidhi: giving with dakṣiṇā and specifying a standard measure (āḍhaka) of rice—an applied detail aligned with kalpa-style procedural discipline.