Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

शरीरमन्नजं प्राहुः प्राणानप्यन्नजान्विदुः । तस्मादन्नप्रदो ज्ञेयः प्राणदः पृथिवीपते ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

śarīramannajaṃ prāhuḥ prāṇānapyannajānviduḥ | tasmādannaprado jñeyaḥ prāṇadaḥ pṛthivīpate || 75 ||

Translation

உடல் அன்னத்தால் பிறந்தது என்று கூறுவர்; உயிர்வாயுக்களும் அன்னத்திலிருந்தே எழுகின்றன என்று அறியப்படுகிறது. ஆகவே, பூமிபதியே, அன்னம் அளிப்பவன் பிராணன் அளிப்பவனே என்று உணர்க।

Word by Word

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of प्राहुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्नजम्: born of food
• अन्नजम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्नज (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अन्नात् जातम् = born from food)

• प्राहुः: they say
• प्राहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्राणान्: the vital breaths/life-forces
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of विदुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also)

• अन्नजान्: born of food
• अन्नजान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of प्राणान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्नज (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अन्नात् जाताः)

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Hetu/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that); हेत्वर्थे

• अन्नप्रदः: the giver of food
• अन्नप्रदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; of implied अस्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नप्रद (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + प्रद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अन्नस्य प्रदाता)

• ज्ञेयः: should be regarded
• ज्ञेयः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विध्यर्थक-गेरुण्डिव (to be known/considered)

• प्राणदः: a giver of life
• प्राणदः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणद (प्रातिपदिक; प्राण + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राणानां दाता)

• पृथिवीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• पृथिवीपते: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति (प्रातिपदिक; पृथिवी + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पृथिव्याः पतिः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada / instructing a kingly listener as 'pṛthivīpati')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthivīpati (king)

FAQs

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

It elevates anna-dāna as a life-sustaining sacred act: since body and prāṇa depend on food, feeding others is equated with preserving life and accruing high puṇya.

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

It frames compassionate service—especially feeding beings—as a dharmic expression of devotion, where care for life becomes an offering aligned with sattvic conduct praised in Purāṇic bhakti culture.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught; the practical takeaway is ritual-ethics (dāna-dharma): prioritize anna-dāna as a foundational, universally beneficial charity.