Shloka 31

Devanagari script

पाल्यमानो जनन्या हि पितृहीनोऽपि दर्पितः । समीहते जगद्धर्तुं सवीर्यं मातृजं पयः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

pālyamāno jananyā hi pitṛhīno'pi darpitaḥ | samīhate jagaddhartuṃ savīryaṃ mātṛjaṃ payaḥ || 31 ||

Translation

ജനനിയുടെ പരിപാലനത്തിൽ വളർന്ന പുത്രൻ, പിതാവില്ലെങ്കിലും, അഭിമാനത്തോടെ നിറയും; മാതാവിൽ നിന്നുയർന്ന വീര്യമുള്ള പാലിന്റെ ബലത്തിൽ ലോകത്തെ താങ്ങാൻ ശ്രമിക്കും.

Word by Word

• पाल्यमानः: being nurtured
• पाल्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु) + य (णिच्/causative base) → पालय्; + मान (शानच्/कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: Present passive participle (कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त; शानच्/मान), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); “being protected/nurtured”

• जनन्या: by the mother
• जनन्या: Karana (करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• पितृ-हीनः: fatherless
• पितृ-हीनः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Subject attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: “devoid of a father”

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning “even/also”

• दर्पितः: proud
• दर्पितः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Subject attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्पित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from दर्प्/दृप्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); “proud/arrogant”

• समीहते: strives/attempts
• समीहते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईह् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; with ‘धर्तुम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• धर्तुम्: to support
• धर्तुम्: Karma (कर्म/Infinitival object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त/infinitive)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose/complement of “समीहते”: “to support/hold”

• स-वीर्यम्: strength-giving
• स-वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: “having strength/with potency”

• मातृ-जम्: mother-born
• मातृ-जम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: “born of the mother”

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharmic idea that life is upheld by nurturing power (śakti) symbolized by a mother’s milk, and that strength and confidence can arise even amid perceived lack—yet pride must be tempered by gratitude for the source of support.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it implies a devotional ethic of recognizing the sustaining grace behind one’s strength—training the mind toward humility and reverence, qualities central to Vishnu-bhakti in the Purāṇic worldview.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) instruction appears; the verse functions as dharma-upadeśa—an ethical reflection embedded in the narrative rather than a technical ritual or grammatical teaching.