Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

द्रव्याभावे द्विजाभावे ह्यन्नमात्रं च पाचयेत् । पैतृकेन तु सूक्तेन होमं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

dravyābhāve dvijābhāve hyannamātraṃ ca pācayet | paitṛkena tu sūktena homaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ || 78 ||

Translation

ദ്രവ്യക്കുറവും യോഗ്യനായ ദ്വിജന്റെ അഭാവവും ഉണ്ടായാലും കുറഞ്ഞത് അന്നമാത്രം പാകം ചെയ്യണം; വിവേകി പൈതൃക സൂക്തം കൊണ്ടു ഹോമം നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• द्रव्याभावे: in absence of materials
• द्रव्याभावे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य-अभाव (प्रातिपदिक; द्रव्य + अभाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the absence of materials)

• द्विजाभावे: in absence of a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजाभावे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-अभाव (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + अभाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अन्नमात्रम्: only food (just food)
• अन्नमात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + मात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• पाचयेत्: should cook
• पाचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पैतृकेन: with a paternal/ancestral (hymn)
• पैतृकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैतृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सूक्तेन)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• सूक्तेन: with a hymn
• सूक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• होमम्: homa (fire-offering)
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincerity and continuity of pitṛ-duty matter more than external abundance: even with limited means, one should still perform the essential ancestor-offering with proper mantra and intent.

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

By emphasizing inner resolve over display, it aligns ritual action with a devotional attitude—doing one’s dharma with humility and faith, without abandoning sacred duties due to scarcity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual pragmatics (kalpa-style procedure): permissible substitutions in rites, and the use of a specific Vedic hymn (sūkta) for homa connected to pitṛ-kārya.