Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

एकैकस्यै ददौ भूप शतानि त्रीणि पंच च । करेणूनां सवेगानां मांसविक्रांतकंधराम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

ekaikasyai dadau bhūpa śatāni trīṇi paṃca ca | kareṇūnāṃ savegānāṃ māṃsavikrāṃtakaṃdharām || 48 ||

Translation

Ô roi, à chacune il donna trois cent cinq éléphantes rapides, aux épaules et aux cous robustes, pleines de chair et de force.

Word by Word

• ekaikasyai: to each one (of them)
• ekaikasyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka-eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); distributive ‘to each one’

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒तु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhūpa: O king
• bhūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• śatāni: hundreds
• śatāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• trīṇi: three
• trīṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral agreeing with śatāni

• paṃca: five
• paṃca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃcan (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral form used with neuter plural; qualifying śatāni

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kareṇūnām: of female elephants
• kareṇūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kareṇū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-vegānām: swift, full of speed
• sa-vegānām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘together with speed/impetus’ i.e., swift

• māṃsa-vikrānta-kaṃdharām: (one) whose neck/shoulder is powerfully built with flesh
• māṃsa-vikrānta-kaṃdharām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa + vikrānta + kaṃdharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi describing kareṇū (understood)

Speaker

Suta (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_journey":"From amazement at the magnitude of the gift to a heroic, forceful imagery of powerful, swift elephants."}

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dāna (charitable gifting) as a concrete expression of dharma: lavish, well-chosen gifts offered to deserving recipients are portrayed as generating puṇya (merit) within the tirtha-mahātmya framework.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, the verse supports a bhakti-aligned ethic: devotion is demonstrated through righteous conduct—humility, generosity, and service—performed as offerings within sacred narratives and holy places.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric conduct—appropriate dāna and royal responsibility (rāja-dharma) as part of ritualized merit-making.