Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

मातुलिंगाम्रकदलीफलैर्हुत्वा सहस्रकम् । द्वाविंशतिब्रह्मचारि विप्रान्संभोजयेच्छुचीन् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

mātuliṃgāmrakadalīphalairhutvā sahasrakam | dvāviṃśatibrahmacāri viprānsaṃbhojayecchucīn || 18 ||

Translation

മാതുലിംഗം, മാങ്ങ, വാഴപ്പഴം എന്നിവയുടെ ഫലങ്ങളാൽ ആയിരം ആഹുതികൾ അർപ്പിച്ച്, പിന്നെ ശുചികളായ ബ്രഹ്മചാരികളായ ഇരുപത്തിരണ്ട് ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ ഭോജനിപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• मातुलिङ्ग-आम्र-कदली-फलैः: with citron-, mango-, and banana-fruits
• मातुलिङ्ग-आम्र-कदली-फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुलिङ्ग + आम्र + कदली + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमास (फलैः = by fruits)

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having offered (in fire)’

• सहस्रकम्: a thousand (offerings)
• सहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘a thousand (times/quantity)’

• द्वाविंशति: twenty-two
• द्वाविंशति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वाविंशति (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘twenty-two’ (qualifying viprān)

• ब्रह्मचारि: brahmacārin (celibate)
• ब्रह्मचारि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन (विप्रान् इति विशेष्येण सह); ‘brahmacārin (celibate student)’

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन

• संभोजयेत्: should feed (entertain)
• संभोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘should feed/entertain well’

• शुचीन्: pure
• शुचीन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; (विप्रान्) qualifying: ‘pure/clean’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/ritual context, traditionally within dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links inner and outer purity to merit: the rite is completed not only by homa (a thousand offerings) but also by honoring disciplined, pure brahmacārin brāhmaṇas through feeding, which is treated as a direct support of dharma.

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

Though framed as ritual instruction, the spirit aligns with bhakti through reverent offering and service—making sacred gifts and respectfully nourishing worthy recipients as an act of devotion and humility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): prescribed materials (specific fruits), a fixed count (sahasra oblations), and the concluding act of brahmana-bhojana with qualified recipients (śuci, brahmacārin).