Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

अज्ञातगोत्रनामानमन्यग्रामादुपागतम् । विपश्चितोऽतिथिं प्राहुर्विष्णुवत्तं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

ajñātagotranāmānamanyagrāmādupāgatam | vipaścito'tithiṃ prāhurviṣṇuvattaṃ prapūjayet || 73 ||

Translation

Orang bijaksana menyebut seorang yang datang dari kampung lain, tanpa diketahui nama dan gotranya, sebagai tetamu sejati; tetamu demikian hendaklah dihormati dan dipuja sebagaimana memuja Tuhan Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• अज्ञात-गोत्र-नामानम्: one whose lineage and name are unknown
• अज्ञात-गोत्र-नामानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (कृदन्त) + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अज्ञातं गोत्रं च नाम च यस्य)

• अन्य-ग्रामात्: from another village
• अन्य-ग्रामात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अन्यः ग्रामः)

• उपागतम्: who has come/arrived
• उपागतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गौ—उप, आ

• विपश्चितः: the wise (people)
• विपश्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they have said / they declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णु-वत्: like Vishnu
• विष्णु-वत्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like/as)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रपूजयेत्: should honor/worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Atithi-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that service to an unexpected guest—especially an unknown traveler—becomes direct worship of Vishnu, turning ordinary hospitality into a sacred act of dharma.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverence in action: honoring the atithi “as Vishnu” trains the devotee to perceive the Lord in living beings and to serve without pride or calculation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes applied dharma-vidhi (ritual etiquette): recognizing an atithi by circumstance (an unannounced outsider) and performing proper pūjā-like reception; this aligns with smārta conduct rather than a specific Vedanga like Jyotiṣa.