Shloka 50

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

प्रददौ दश सप्ताश्वान्मातॄणां सुखयायिनः । एवं दत्वा बहुधनं बह्वीभ्यो नृपनंदनः ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

pradadau daśa saptāśvānmātṝṇāṃ sukhayāyinaḥ | evaṃ datvā bahudhanaṃ bahvībhyo nṛpanaṃdanaḥ || 50 ||

Translation

അവൻ മാതൃഗണത്തിന് സുഖകരമായ സവാരിക്കായി പത്തും ഏഴും കുതിരകൾ ദാനമായി നൽകി. ഇങ്ങനെ രാജകുമാരൻ പല സ്ത്രീകൾക്കും ധാരാളം ധനം അർപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• pradadau: gave (bestowed)
• pradadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (प्र + दा धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्—perfect/past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral used adjectivally) Avyaya-like indeclinable numeral in classical usage; here qualifying aśvān; meaning ‘ten’

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral used adjectivally) Avyaya-like indeclinable numeral; qualifying aśvān; meaning ‘seven’

• aśvān: horses
• aśvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• mātṝṇām: of/for the mothers
• mātṝṇām: Sampradāna/Adhikāra (सम्प्रदान/अधिकार—of/for the mothers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (मातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• sukha-yāyinaḥ: comfortable-riding (easy to ride)
• sukha-yāyinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + yāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), agreeing with aśvān

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (प्रकार-अव्यय—adverb of manner)

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा—absolutive/gerund), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• bahu-dhanam: much wealth
• bahu-dhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• bahvībhyaḥ: to many (women)
• bahvībhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (4th/चतुर्थी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• nṛpa-naṃdanaḥ: the king’s son
• nṛpa-naṃdanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + naṃdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘king’s son’; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within Narada Purana; dialogue frame traditionally attributed to Sage Nārada in transmission)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛs (Mothers)
• nṛpanandana (a prince)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dāna (charitable gifting) as a core dharmic act: offering valuable, life-supporting gifts (like horses for travel) to revered recipients generates puṇya and supports social and sacred order.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it reflects the bhakti-aligned ethic of selfless giving—reducing possessiveness and honoring sacred beings (the Mātṛs), which purifies the heart and prepares one for devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and dāna-vidhi: selecting appropriate gifts and proper recipients (worthy beings like the Mātṛs) as part of dharmic, merit-producing conduct.