Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

पाद्यं निवेद्य प्रथमं सार्ध्यं गां च न्यद्दे । स च तांमंत्रतः पूजां प्रतिगृह्य द्विजोत्तमः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

pādyaṃ nivedya prathamaṃ sārdhyaṃ gāṃ ca nyadde | sa ca tāṃmaṃtrataḥ pūjāṃ pratigṛhya dvijottamaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

ກ່ອນອື່ນ ທ່ານໄດ້ຖວາຍນ້ຳລ້າງພຣະບາດ (ປາດຍະ) ແລ້ວຈຶ່ງນຳເຄື່ອງນິເວດຍະຖວາຍພ້ອມກັບງົວໜຶ່ງ. ພຣາຫມັນຜູ້ປະເສີດໃນບັນດາຜູ້ເກີດສອງຄັ້ງ ໄດ້ຮັບການບູຊາດ້ວຍມັນຕຣາ ແລະຖືກຍົກຍ້ອງຢ່າງສົມຄວນ.

Word by Word

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• निवेद्य: having offered
• निवेद्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) gerund, ‘having offered/presented’

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• सार्ध्यम्: arghya (honor-offering)
• सार्ध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अर्घ्य/सार्घ्य-रूपेण)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• न्यद्दे: he gave
• न्यद्दे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• ताम्: that (worship)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• मन्त्रतः: with mantras / according to mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘by/according to mantra’

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिगृह्य: having accepted
• प्रतिगृह्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) gerund: ‘having accepted/received’

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘द्विजानाम् उत्तमः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada on dharma and mantra-guided reception)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvijottama (Brāhmaṇa)
• Gau (Cow)

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented dharma is supported by reverent hospitality: offering pādya, giving dāna (such as a cow), and performing pūjā with mantras to honor a worthy brāhmaṇa.

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

Bhakti is expressed through humble service and mantra-based worship—honoring the virtuous as embodiments of sacred presence, and making offerings with devotion rather than mere formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights correct ritual procedure (kalpa/vaidika ācāra): the use of mantras (mantrataḥ) and standard upacāras like pādya in formal reception and pūjā.