Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 79

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

अत्यंत हव्यशून्यश्चैत्स्वशक्त्या तु तृणं गवाम् । स्नात्वा च विधिवद्विप्र कुर्याद्वा तिलतपर्णम् ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

atyaṃta havyaśūnyaścaitsvaśaktyā tu tṛṇaṃ gavām | snātvā ca vidhivadvipra kuryādvā tilataparṇam || 79 ||

Translation

Jika benar-benar tiada bahan yang layak untuk persembahan (havya), maka menurut kemampuan—sesudah mandi menurut tata cara—wahai brāhmaṇa, bolehlah menggantinya dengan mempersembahkan rumput untuk lembu, atau melakukan tarpaṇa dengan biji wijen dan air.

Word by Word

• अत्यन्तम्: extremely
• अत्यन्तम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: extremely)

• हव्यशून्यः: devoid of oblations
• हव्यशून्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हव्य-शून्य (प्रातिपदिक; हव्य + शून्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the performer)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• स्वशक्त्या: with one’s own capacity
• स्वशक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + शक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (according to one’s ability)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• तृणम्: grass
• तृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालनिर्देश (having bathed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (adverb: according to rule)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• तिलतपर्णम्: a tilata-leaf (as offering)
• तिलतपर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलत-पर्‍ण (प्रातिपदिक; तिलत + पर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (a leaf of tilata-plant / sesame-leaf offering)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Gau (Cow)

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma is upheld even in poverty: when formal offerings are impossible, sincere, rule-based substitutes (bathing, cow-feeding, sesame-water offering) still carry religious merit.

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

By emphasizing intention and purity over expensive ritual items, it supports a devotional ethic where humble acts—done with faith and proper conduct—become acceptable offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: vidhivat snāna (prescribed bathing) and sanctioned substitute offerings (anukalpa) such as tila-tarpaṇa and feeding cows when havya is unavailable.