Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

हव्यकव्यादिदानेषु देवतापितृरूपधृक् । भुंक्ते य ईश्वरोऽव्यक्तस्तं प्राहुर्मोक्षदं प्रभुम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

havyakavyādidāneṣu devatāpitṛrūpadhṛk | bhuṃkte ya īśvaro'vyaktastaṃ prāhurmokṣadaṃ prabhum || 18 ||

Translation

ഹവ്യ‑കവ്യാദി ദാനങ്ങളിൽ ദേവതാ‑പിതൃരൂപം ധരിച്ചു ആ അർപ്പണങ്ങൾ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നവൻ—അവ്യക്തനായ ഈശ്വരപ്രഭുവേ മോക്ഷദാതാവായ പരമാധിപതി എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധൻ।

Word by Word

• हव्यकव्यादिदानेषु: in (the) offerings like havya and kavya
• हव्यकव्यादिदानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य + कव्य + आदि + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative) — ‘in the offerings such as havya and kavya’

• देवतापितृरूपधृक्: the bearer of the forms of gods and ancestors
• देवतापितृरूपधृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + पितृ + रूप + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘रूपं धत्ते’ इति—धृ धातोः क्विप् (धृक्) प्रत्ययान्त; कर्तृवाचक

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys/partakes
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तः: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of ईश्वरः

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• प्राहुः: they declare/call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मोक्षदम्: granting liberation
• मोक्षदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of प्रभुम्

• प्रभुम्: the master/lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (the Unmanifest Lord)
• Devatas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that behind Deva-yajña (havya) and Pitṛ-kriyā (kavya) stands one unmanifest Ishvara; recognizing Him as the true recipient transforms ritual into a means toward moksha.

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

By identifying the single Lord who ‘assumes’ Deva and Pitṛ forms, the verse directs the practitioner to offer all rites with God-centered intention—seeing every offering as devotion to the Supreme rather than to many separate recipients.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual application (Kalpa-related practice) in distinguishing havya (for Devas) and kavya (for Pitṛs), while emphasizing their theological unity in Ishvara as the ultimate enjoyer.