Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अन्नदानं जपो होमं पितृदेवर्षितर्पणम् । सर्वमेवाक्षयं ज्ञेयं कृतं देवर्षिसत्तम ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

annadānaṃ japo homaṃ pitṛdevarṣitarpaṇam | sarvamevākṣayaṃ jñeyaṃ kṛtaṃ devarṣisattama || 32 ||

Translation

അന്നദാനം, ജപം, ഹോമം, പിതൃ-ദേവ-ഋഷി തർപ്പണം—ഇവയെല്ലാം വിധിപൂർവ്വം ചെയ്താൽ അക്ഷയ പുണ്യമെന്നു അറിയുക, ഹേ ദേവർഷിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ.

Word by Word

• अन्न-दानम्: giving of food
• अन्न-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अन्नस्य दानम्)

• जपः: recitation
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• होमम्: fire-offering
• होमम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पितृ-देव-ऋषि-तर्पणम्: libations to ancestors, gods, and sages
• पितृ-देव-ऋषि-तर्पणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (पितरश्च देवाश्च ऋषयश्च—तेषां तर्पणम्)

• सर्वम्: all (this)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-सदृश-विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle of emphasis)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (imperishable)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘to be known/should be understood’

• कृतम्: when performed
• कृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘done/performed’

• देव-ऋषि-सत्तम: O best of divine sages
• देव-ऋषि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (देवर्षीणां सत्तमः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Pitrs
• Devas
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It declares that core dharmic acts—annadāna, japa, homa, and tarpaṇa—generate akṣaya (imperishable) merit when performed properly, emphasizing lasting spiritual fruit rather than temporary worldly gain.

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

While not naming a specific deity here, it frames devotional life as sustained by disciplined offerings and remembrance—japa and homa cultivate reverence, and tarpaṇa expresses gratitude to the divine order, supporting steady bhakti as a daily practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is central: correct performance of homa and tarpaṇa depends on Vedic procedure (Kalpa) and accurate mantra-recitation (supported by Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa), indicating that dharma becomes ‘akṣaya’ through proper vidhi.