Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

देवयज्ञो भूतयज्ञः पितृयज्ञस्तथैव च । नृपज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञश्च पंचयज्ञान्प्रचक्षते ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

devayajño bhūtayajñaḥ pitṛyajñastathaiva ca | nṛpajño brahmayajñaśca paṃcayajñānpracakṣate || 76 ||

Translation

They declare the five yajñas to be: deva-yajña (offering to the gods), bhūta-yajña (offering to living beings), pitṛ-yajña (rite for the ancestors), nṛpa-yajña (duty toward the king and society), and brahma-yajña (the sacrifice of sacred study and teaching).

Word by Word

• देव-यज्ञः: the deva-sacrifice
• देव-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानां यज्ञः)

• भूत-यज्ञः: the being/creature-sacrifice
• भूत-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां यज्ञः)

• पितृ-यज्ञः: the ancestor-sacrifice
• पितृ-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पितॄणां यज्ञः)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/so)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• नृ-यज्ञः: the human/guest-sacrifice
• नृ-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नॄणां/मनुष्याणां यज्ञः)

• ब्रह्म-यज्ञः: the brahma/veda-sacrifice
• ब्रह्म-यज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः/वेदस्य यज्ञः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• पञ्च-यज्ञान्: the five sacrifices
• पञ्च-यज्ञान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (पञ्चसंख्यकान् यज्ञान्)

• प्रचक्षते: they call/declare
• प्रचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It defines the pañca-yajñas as a complete framework of daily dharma—honoring gods, beings, ancestors, society, and sacred knowledge—so a householder’s life becomes a continuous, purifying sacrifice.

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

By placing deva-yajña and brahma-yajña among the core daily duties, it supports devotion through worship and sacred recitation/study—practices that steady the mind in reverence and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Brahma-yajña points directly to svādhyāya (study/recitation) and correct transmission of Vedic texts, which relies on Vedāṅga disciplines such as Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for accurate chanting and understanding.