Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

ऋत्विग्भ्यो दक्षिणां दद्यादरुणां गां पयस्विनीम् । गुरुं संप्रीणयेत्पश्चाद्धनाद्यैर्देवताधिया ॥ ११९ ॥

Transliteration

ṛtvigbhyo dakṣiṇāṃ dadyādaruṇāṃ gāṃ payasvinīm | guruṃ saṃprīṇayetpaścāddhanādyairdevatādhiyā || 119 ||

Translation

Qu’on donne aux ṛtvij (prêtres officiants) la dakṣiṇā : une vache d’un brun rougeâtre, riche en lait. Ensuite, tenant le guru pour digne d’une vénération divine, qu’on le comble de richesses et d’autres présents.

Word by Word

• ऋत्विग्भ्यः: to the priests
• ऋत्विग्भ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), बहुवचन

• दक्षिणाम्: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अरुणाम्: reddish/brown
• अरुणाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (गाम् इत्यस्य)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (गाम् इत्यस्य)

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सम्प्रीणयेत्: should please/satisfy
• सम्प्रीणयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु, causative/णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-सम् + णिच् (causative)

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

• धन-आद्यैः: with wealth and the like
• धन-आद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (धनं च आदयः च = wealth etc.)

• देवता-धिया: with the thought of (it as) for the deity
• देवता-धिया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवतायाः धिः = notion/intent regarding deity)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gurū (spiritual teacher)
• Ṛtvij (officiating priests)

FAQs

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

It frames dakṣiṇā and guru-sevā as essential completions of Vedic ritual: honoring the ṛtviks sustains yajña-dharma, and honoring the guru with devatā-buddhi sanctifies one’s learning and practice.

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

By instructing devatā-dhiyā toward the guru, it teaches reverential surrender and service—core bhakti dispositions—expressed through respectful giving and gratitude rather than mere ritual performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-oriented ritual protocol: the prescribed dakṣiṇā to ṛtviks and the post-rite obligation of honoring the guru with appropriate gifts, ensuring the yajña is properly concluded.