Shloka 56

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

दशप्रस्थान्यवान्दद्याद्दश गव्यैर्यथाहितान् । मत्स्यकच्छपमंडूकमकरादिजलेचरान् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

daśaprasthānyavāndadyāddaśa gavyairyathāhitān | matsyakacchapamaṃḍūkamakarādijalecarān || 56 ||

Translation

Qu’on donne dix prasthas d’orge, avec dix vaches dûment pourvues selon la règle; et qu’on offre aussi (des dons figurant) des êtres aquatiques—poisson, tortue, grenouille, crocodile et autres habitants des eaux.

Word by Word

• दश-प्रस्थान्: ten prasthas (measures)
• दश-प्रस्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास

• यवान्: barley grains
• यवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; ‘गव्यैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (ten)

• गव्यैः: with cow-products (milk etc.)
• गव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (गव्यं=गोसम्बन्धि द्रव्यं/दुग्धादि), तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन

• यथा-हितान्: as prescribed/appropriate
• यथा-हितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + हित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘यथाहित’ = यथोचित/यथाविधि; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (जलेचरान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• मत्स्य-कच्छप-मण्डूक-मकर-आदि-जलेचरान्: aquatic creatures such as fish, tortoises, frogs, crocodiles, etc.
• मत्स्य-कच्छप-मण्डूक-मकर-आदि-जलेचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + कच्छप + मण्डूक + मकर + आदि + जलेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—(i) मत्स्यकच्छपमण्डूकमकरादि (समाहार/सूचीभावः), (ii) तदन्तः ‘जलेचर’ इत्यनेन तत्पुरुषः (‘जल-चर’ = जले चरति)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya/dana context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly prescribed charity (dāna)—measured grain, duly qualified cows, and symbolic gifts—creates puṇya when performed according to rule, especially in a sacred (tīrtha) context.

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

While not directly a bhakti hymn, it supports bhakti-based dharma by directing the devotee to offer resources in a regulated, selfless way—an outward expression of reverence that complements tīrtha-worship and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through fixed measures like prastha and the phrase yathāhitān (“as prescribed”), reflecting rule-governed dāna-vidhi rather than grammar or astrology.