Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

शेषं च भागद्वितयं पुत्रयोरुभयोर्ददौ । स्वेनार्जितानां पापानां नाशं कर्तुमनास्तदा ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śeṣaṃ ca bhāgadvitayaṃ putrayorubhayordadau | svenārjitānāṃ pāpānāṃ nāśaṃ kartumanāstadā || 31 ||

Translation

Et les deux parts restantes, il les donna à ses deux fils, voulant ainsi faire disparaître les fautes qu’il avait lui-même amassées.

Word by Word

• शेषम्: remaining
• शेषम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘remaining’ (भागद्वितयस्य विशेषणम्)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भाग-द्वितयम्: two portions
• भाग-द्वितयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (two portions)

• पुत्रयोः: to (his) two sons
• पुत्रयोः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी विभक्ति (Dative/Genitive 4th/6th), द्विवचन (dual)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; पुत्रयोः विशेषणम् (of both)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वेन: by his own
• स्वेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by his own’ (instrumental qualifier)

• अर्जितानाम्: earned/acquired
• अर्जितानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘earned’, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; पापानाम् विशेषणम्

• पापानाम्: of sins
• पापानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to accomplish
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose; infinitival)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तुमुन् (infinitive), ‘to do/make’

• अनाः: desirous
• अनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनस्/अन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘eager/desirous’ (predicate adjective)

• तदा: then
• तदा: काल (Kāla/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Putra (sons)

FAQs

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

It presents dāna and rightful distribution of one’s wealth as a dharmic act aimed at pāpa-kṣaya—reducing the burden of self-earned wrongdoing through ethical conduct and generosity.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports a bhakti-aligned life by emphasizing purification (śuddhi) and repentance expressed through dharmic action—preparing the mind for devotion and remembrance of Bhagavan.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical dharma takeaway is emphasized rather than a Vedanga: proper household conduct (gṛhastha-dharma) in matters of inheritance and giving, which functions as a form of ethical prāyaścitta (atonement).