Shloka 33

Devanagari script

पितृमार्गाधिको ह्येष भवतां दर्शितः प्रजाः । ब्रह्मार्पणक्रियायुक्ता भवंतु ज्ञानकोविदाः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛmārgādhiko hyeṣa bhavatāṃ darśitaḥ prajāḥ | brahmārpaṇakriyāyuktā bhavaṃtu jñānakovidāḥ || 33 ||

Translation

पितृमार्गाधिको ह्येष भवद्भिः प्रजाभ्यः प्रदर्शितः; ब्रह्मार्पणक्रियायुक्ता भवन्तु, ज्ञानकोविदाश्च।

Word by Word

• पितृ-मार्ग-अधिकः: superior to the path of the ancestors
• पितृ-मार्ग-अधिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pitṝṇāṃ mārgaḥ = ‘path of the Pitṛs’) + विशेषण ‘अधिकः’ (superior)

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

• एषः: this (one/way)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संकेत/प्रदर्शन (demonstrative pronoun)

• भवताम्: of you (hon.)
• भवताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; आदरार्थ (honorific ‘of you’)

• दर्शितः: has been shown
• दर्शितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दर्शित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘shown/indicated’

• प्रजाः: O people/subjects
• प्रजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोग

• ब्रह्म-अर्पण-क्रिया-युक्ताः: engaged in acts of offering to Brahman
• ब्रह्म-अर्पण-क्रिया-युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇi arpaṇam = ‘offering to Brahman’) + ‘क्रिया’ + ‘युक्त’ = ‘endowed/engaged’; विशेषणम् (qualifies implied ‘you’)

• भवन्तु: let them be / may you be
• भवन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• ज्ञान-कोविदाः: knowers of (true) knowledge
• ज्ञान-कोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (jñāne kovidāḥ = ‘skilled in knowledge’)

Speaker

Narada (addressing the Sanatkumara tradition/sages and speaking for the benefit of people)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It elevates Pitṛ-related duties by insisting they be performed as brahmārpaṇa—actions dedicated to the Supreme—so ritual becomes a means to inner purification and knowledge.

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

By framing kriyā (ritual duty) as an offering to the Highest (Brahman), it aligns action with surrender; this offering-attitude is the devotional core that sanctifies Pitṛ rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to correct kriyā-yoga (proper ritual procedure), implying competence in kalpa (ritual manuals) and śikṣā/ucchāra (accurate recitation) so offerings are performed in a disciplined, knowledge-oriented way.