Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

तयोराद्यो यज्ञमाली विभेद पितृसंचितम् । धनं द्विधा कनिष्टस्य भागमेकं ददौ तदा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

tayorādyo yajñamālī vibheda pitṛsaṃcitam | dhanaṃ dvidhā kaniṣṭasya bhāgamekaṃ dadau tadā || 2 ||

Translation

Des deux, l’aîné — Yajñamālī — partagea en deux la richesse amassée par leur père et, alors, remit une part au cadet.

Word by Word

• tayoḥ: of the two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ādyaḥ: the first/elder
• ādyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yajñamālī: Yajñamālī
• yajñamālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajñamālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vibheda: divided
• vibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-bhid (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitṛsaṃcitam: father-accumulated
• pitṛsaṃcitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃcita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: pituḥ saṃcitam (‘accumulated by the father’)

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvidhā: into two
• dvidhā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (प्रकार/adverb), ‘in two parts’

• kaniṣṭasya: of the younger
• kaniṣṭasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaniṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāgam: share
• bhāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल/temporal adverb)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purana’s dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma in household life: ancestral wealth (pitṛsaṃcita dhana) should be distributed with fairness, reflecting restraint, responsibility, and right conduct toward one’s kin.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by grounding devotion in dharmic behavior—serving and honoring family obligations without greed is presented as a conduct conducive to a sattvic, devotion-ready mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric ethics regarding equitable division of inherited property.