Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

सौभाग्यद्रव्यवस्त्राणि वंशपात्राणि षोडश । दातव्यानि प्रयत्नेन ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथाविधि ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

saubhāgyadravyavastrāṇi vaṃśapātrāṇi ṣoḍaśa | dātavyāni prayatnena brāhmaṇebhyo yathāvidhi || 34 ||

Translation

Les biens qui accroissent l’heureuse fortune, avec les vêtements et les seize vases rituels de la lignée, doivent être offerts avec soin aux brāhmaṇas, selon la règle prescrite.

Word by Word

• सौभाग्य-द्रव्य-वस्त्राणि: auspicious items, valuables, and garments
• सौभाग्य-द्रव्य-वस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• वंश-पात्राणि: bamboo vessels/containers
• वंश-पात्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpurusha: ‘of bamboo’)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (numeral used adjectivally), बहुवचनार्थे (qualifying plural set)

• दातव्यानि: should be given
• दातव्यानि: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate: ‘to be given/should be given’)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Dat./Abl.), बहुवचन (Plural); अत्र चतुर्थी (recipient)

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial phrase)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that charity (dāna) becomes spiritually fruitful when it is done deliberately (prayatnena) and according to scriptural procedure (yathāvidhi), especially when offered to qualified recipients such as Brahmins in a ritual context.

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

While the verse is primarily about dharma and ritual charity, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching disciplined, scripturally guided offerings—acts that can be performed as devotional service when dedicated to the divine order upheld by sacred law.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The key practical point is ritual correctness (yathāvidhi), which relies on Kalpa (procedural rules for rites and donations) and, by extension, proper recitation and usage governed by Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa.