Shloka 24

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

अन्नेन वा यथाशक्त्या काले ऽस्मिन् भक्तिनम्रधीः भोजयिष्यति विप्राग्र्यांस् तन्मात्रविभवो नरः

Transliteration

annena vā yathāśaktyā kāle 'smin bhaktinamradhīḥ bhojayiṣyati viprāgryāṃs tanmātravibhavo naraḥ

Translation

In this time, a man whose mind is bowed in devotion should, according to his capacity, feed the foremost brāhmaṇas with food; for his true “wealth” is only as much as he can offer in such sacred hospitality.

Word by Word

• अन्नेन: with food
• अन्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• यथा-शक्त्या: according to ability
• यथा-शक्त्या: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; समासान्तपदम् स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—यथाशक्ति (according to one’s ability)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular pronoun)

• भक्ति-नम्र-धीः: having a mind humbled by devotion
• भक्ति-नम्र-धीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + नम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (उपपद/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one whose mind is humble with devotion)

• भोजयिष्यति: will feed
• भोजयिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (he will cause to eat/feed)

• विप्र-अग्र्यान्: the foremost Brahmins
• विप्र-अग्र्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• तत्-मात्र-विभवः: having only that much wealth
• तत्-मात्र-विभवः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (having only that much means)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Proper śrāddha-related giving and the role of capacity (yathāśakti) and bhakti in offerings to brāhmaṇas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True ‘wealth’ is measured by one’s sincere capacity to offer sacred hospitality with a mind humbled by devotion, not by outward quantity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Give regularly within your means—food, time, or resources—to worthy recipients and sacred causes, prioritizing sincerity over display.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti expressed through dharmic action becomes meaningful because the Lord accepts the intent (saṅkalpa) and sanctifies the act through grace.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (vipra)
• Householder (nara)

FAQs

What is the significance of feeding Brāhmaṇas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames feeding worthy Brāhmaṇas as a core act of dharma, where devotion becomes tangible through hospitality and sustenance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain giving according to capacity (yathāśakti)?

He emphasizes proportional duty: one should offer food and hospitality to the extent one can, with a mind softened by devotion, rather than seeking display or excess.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named here, the ethic reflects Vaiṣṇava dharma: devotion to the Supreme is validated through righteous living—service, humility, and sustaining the sacred social order.