Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

भिक्षान्नं भोजयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नाशी कदाचन । आनीयानिन्द्यविप्राणां गृहाद्भिक्षां जितेंद्रियः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

bhikṣānnaṃ bhojayennityaṃ naikānnāśī kadācana | ānīyānindyaviprāṇāṃ gṛhādbhikṣāṃ jiteṃdriyaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

A self-controlled person should always partake only of alms-food and never become one who eats from many households. With the senses conquered, he should bring alms from the homes of blameless brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• भिक्षा-अन्नम्: alms-food
• भिक्षा-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘भिक्षायाः अन्नम्’

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच् (causative) प्रयोगः ‘भोजयति’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एक-अन्न-आशी: one who eats only one kind of food
• एक-अन्न-आशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः) ‘एकम् अन्नम् आश्नाति इति’

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘आनीय’ = ‘आ + नी’ धातोः ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थः; अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-भावः

• अनिन्द्य-विप्राणाम्: of blameless Brahmins
• अनिन्द्य-विप्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिन्द्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अनिन्द्याः विप्राः’

• गृहात्: from the house
• गृहात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (Ablative)

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √जि धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः’

Speaker

Narada (teaching dharma in a prescriptive tone within the Purva Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It trains the seeker in restraint and purity: living on alms with controlled senses reduces attachment, curbs indulgence, and keeps one’s livelihood aligned with dharma.

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

By limiting dependence and sensory craving, the mind becomes steadier for remembrance of the Divine; disciplined sustenance supports sustained worship, japa, and devotional conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and conduct (ācāra) are emphasized—how to procure and consume food in a regulated way—supporting purity needed for mantra, study, and daily rites.