Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

हसतो वदते कोऽपि राक्षघसं तद्भवेद्धविः । यथाचार प्रदेयं च मधुमांसादिकं तथा ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

hasato vadate ko'pi rākṣaghasaṃ tadbhaveddhaviḥ | yathācāra pradeyaṃ ca madhumāṃsādikaṃ tathā || 62 ||

Translation

ആരെങ്കിലും ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് സംസാരിച്ചാൽ, ആ വാക്ക് രാക്ഷസർക്കുള്ള ഹവിയായി മാറുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ശാസ്ത്രോക്ത ആചാരപ്രകാരം ദാനം-ആഹുതി നൽകണം—വിധിയുള്ളിടത്ത് തേൻ, മാംസം മുതലായവയും അതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• हसतः: of one who is laughing
• हसतः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हसत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘हसत्’ = ‘हसन्’ (gen. sg.)

• वदतः: of one who is speaking
• वदतः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘वदत्’ (gen. sg.)

• कः: who
• कः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• अपि: even; also; (with कः) someone/anyone
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (emphasis/indefiniteness)

• राक्षघसम्: food of demons; demonic food
• राक्षघसम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षघस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास: राक्षस-घस (राक्षसस्य घसः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हविः: oblation
• हविः: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यथा: according to
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/according to)

• आचारम्: custom; proper practice
• आचारम्: अव्ययार्थ-सम्बन्ध (standard/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रदेयम्: to be offered/given
• प्रदेयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावे विधेय/gerundive (यत्) ‘to be given’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक conjunction

• मधुमांसादिकम्: honey, meat, and the like
• मधुमांसादिकम्: कर्म/विधेय (Object/predicate complement, context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + मांस + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व: मधु-मांस-आदि (honey, meat, etc.)

• तथा: likewise; so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (so/likewise)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Raksasas

FAQs

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

It stresses ritual purity and mindful conduct: improper demeanor—such as laughing speech during sacred acts—diverts the sanctity of an offering toward lower influences (Rākṣasic), so one must act in accordance with dharmic ācāra.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through feeling but through disciplined reverence; careful speech and behavior during worship protect the devotional act from becoming casual or disrespectful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Sadācāra (normative conduct): offerings must match the prescribed rite and tradition, including specific substances when a given ritual authorizes them.