Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

वैश्वदेवादिकं कृत्वा भोजयेद्द्विजसत्तमान् । देवे निवेदितं पश्चाद्भुंमजीत स्वगणैः स्वयम् ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

vaiśvadevādikaṃ kṛtvā bhojayeddvijasattamān | deve niveditaṃ paścādbhuṃmajīta svagaṇaiḥ svayam || 138 ||

Translation

Après avoir d’abord accompli le Vaiśvadeva et les autres offrandes préliminaires, qu’on nourrisse les plus excellents des dvija. Une fois la nourriture offerte à la Divinité, qu’on mange ensuite soi-même avec ses serviteurs.

Word by Word

• वैश्वदेव-आदिकम्: the Vaiśvadeva rite and the like
• वैश्वदेव-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेव-आदि (प्रातिपदिक); वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वैश्वदेवम् आदिः यस्य तत्/वैश्वदेव-प्रभृति)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्/भोजय् (धातु; णिच् causative of भुज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• द्विजसत्तमान्: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक); द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठाः द्विजाः)

• देवे: to/for the deity (in the deity’s context)
• देवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निवेदितम्: offered (as naivedya)
• निवेदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here used as object 'that which has been offered'

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (afterwards)

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

• स्वगणैः: with his own attendants/people
• स्वगणैः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-गण (प्रातिपदिक); स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गणाः)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeśa (कर्तृनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः कर्तृत्व-प्रदर्शक (oneself)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; instructional dharma passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches the dharmic order of eating: first honor the cosmic and divine recipients through Vaiśvadeva and naivedya, then honor worthy dvijas through feeding, and only afterward partake oneself—making food an act of yajña rather than mere consumption.

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

By insisting that food be first offered to the Deity (naivedya), it frames daily life as devotional service; one eats as prasāda after offering, cultivating humility and God-centered living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga): the correct sequence of domestic offerings (Vaiśvadeva), deity offering (naivedya), and hospitality/feeding of dvijas—key to maintaining śrauta-smārta order in daily practice.