Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

भ्रात्रा दत्तं धनं तञ्च सुमाली नाशयन्मुने । मद्यपानप्रमत्तश्च गोमांसा दीन्यभक्षयत् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

bhrātrā dattaṃ dhanaṃ tañca sumālī nāśayanmune | madyapānapramattaśca gomāṃsā dīnyabhakṣayat || 14 ||

Translation

हे मुने, सुमालीने भावाने दिलेले धनही उधळून टाकले; आणि मद्यपानाने मत्त होऊन तो गोमांस व इतर निषिद्ध मांसही खाऊ लागला।

Word by Word

• भ्रात्रा: by (his) brother
• भ्रात्रा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सहायक), एकवचन — Instrumental singular (by the brother)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past passive participle (kta), agreeing with ‘धनम्’

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Pronoun, accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय — Conjunction ‘and’

• सुमाली: Sumālī
• सुमाली: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular (proper name)

• नाशयन्: destroying
• नाशयन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय् (धातु, णिच्) → नाशयत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Present active participle ‘destroying’ (used predicatively)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन — Vocative singular

• मद्यपानप्रमत्तः: intoxicated from drinking liquor
• मद्यपानप्रमत्तः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpuruṣa: मद्यपान-प्रमत्तः ‘intoxicated due to drinking liquor’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय — Conjunction

• गोमांसानि: cow-meat (pieces)
• गोमांसानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Tatpuruṣa: गो-मांस ‘cow-flesh’; accusative plural

• दीनि: wretched/low (vile)
• दीनि: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural; qualifying ‘गोमांसानि’

• अभक्षयत्: he ate
• अभक्षयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Imperfect: ‘he ate/consumed’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana dialogue frame; addressed to a sage: 'mune')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Sumali

FAQs

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

It illustrates a classic dharma warning: squandered wealth, intoxication, and forbidden consumption are signs of moral decline (adharma) that obstruct sattva, devotion, and spiritual progress.

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

By contrast: bhakti thrives on purity, restraint, and right conduct. The verse shows behaviors (madyapāna, forbidden meat, heedlessness) that erode inner discipline needed for steady remembrance of Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily dharma-śāstra-aligned niyamas (practical ethical restraints) rather than a technical Vedanga: avoid intoxicants and prohibited foods to preserve mental clarity for mantra, vrata, and ritual observance.