Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

दत्वान्नं ब्राह्मणादिभ्यः पक्वं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः । एतदन्नव्रतं विप्र विधिनाऽचरितं नृभिः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

datvānnaṃ brāhmaṇādibhyaḥ pakvaṃ bhuñjīta vāgyataḥ | etadannavrataṃ vipra vidhinā'caritaṃ nṛbhiḥ || 25 ||

Translation

Après avoir donné de la nourriture aux brāhmaṇa et aux autres, qu’on ne mange que des mets cuits, en tenant sa parole en bride. Ô brāhmaṇa, tel est l’Annāvrata, le vœu concernant la nourriture, que les hommes doivent accomplir selon la règle.

Word by Word

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having given’

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्राह्मण-आदिभ्यः: to Brahmins and others
• ब्राह्मण-आदिभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—ब्राह्मणाः आदयः येषां ते (ब्राह्मणादयः) इति बहुव्रीहिवत्-गणवाचक, व्यवहारतः तत्पुरुष/समाहार; ‘to Brahmins and others’

• पक्वम्: cooked
• पक्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अन्नम् इति विशेषण

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—वाचा यतः (instrumental relation) इति तत्पुरुष; ‘speech-restrained’

• एतत्-अन्न-व्रतम्: this food-vow
• एतत्-अन्न-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—अन्नसम्बन्धि व्रतम् इति तत्पुरुष; एतत् इति निर्देशक

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधिना: according to rule/rite
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरितम्: observed, practised
• आचरितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘practised/observed’

• नृभिः: by men
• नृभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्तृवाच्ये करणवत् (agent in passive sense)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Annāvrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It frames eating as a dharmic act: first offering food as dāna to worthy recipients, then consuming with restraint and purity, turning daily nourishment into a vow-based discipline (annavrata).

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

By emphasizing self-restraint (vāg-yama) and offering (dāna) before personal enjoyment, it supports bhakti-oriented living where one reduces ego-driven consumption and aligns actions with sacred duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi) is implied: proper sequence (first dāna, then bhojana), purity of food (pakva), and discipline (vāg-yama) as a rule-governed observance.