Shloka 36

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

वाससामयुतं प्रादाद्येषां मूल्यं शताधिकम् । शुद्धस्य मेरुजातस्य अक्षयस्य नुपात्मजः ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

vāsasāmayutaṃ prādādyeṣāṃ mūlyaṃ śatādhikam | śuddhasya merujātasya akṣayasya nupātmajaḥ || 36 ||

Translation

Akṣaya, fils du roi, offrit des dons avec des vêtements dont la valeur, pour chacun, dépassait cent (pièces) ; et il donna aussi de l’or pur, dit issu du Meru, impérissable.

Word by Word

• वाससाम्: of garments
• वाससाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अयुतम्: ten-thousand
• अयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रादात्: gave/bestowed
• प्रादात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• येषाम्: of which/whose
• येषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• शताधिकम्: more than a hundred
• शताधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘mūlyam’

• शुद्धस्य: of pure
• शुद्धस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘akṣayasya’ (gold)

• मेरुजातस्य: of Meru-born
• मेरुजातस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेरु + जात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘born from Meru’

• अक्षयस्य: of imperishable (gold/wealth)
• अक्षयस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); understood as ‘gold’ (akṣaya = imperishable wealth)

• नृपात्मजः: the king’s son
• नृपात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a Tirtha/Mahatmya account; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied for Book 2 recitation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akṣaya
• Meru

FAQs

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

It highlights dāna as a core expression of dharma in a tīrtha/mahatmya setting—giving valuable gifts (cloth and pure gold) is portrayed as a merit-generating act that supports sacred rites and accrues puṇya.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, the verse supports bhakti indirectly: generous offerings made in a sacred context are treated as devotional service (sevā) that purifies intent and strengthens reverence toward the holy place and its presiding divinity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ritual propriety in dāna: gifts are specified with accessories (garments) and assessed by value (mūlya), reflecting dharma-śāstra style precision used in yajña-related and tīrtha-related observances.