Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

पथ्यमन्नं प्रभुञ्जीत वाग्यतोऽन्नमसुत्सयनम् । अमृतोपस्तरणमसि अपोशानं भुजेः पुरः ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

pathyamannaṃ prabhuñjīta vāgyato'nnamasutsayanam | amṛtopastaraṇamasi apośānaṃ bhujeḥ puraḥ || 81 ||

Translation

வாக்கை அடக்கி, உணவை இகழாமல், உகந்த பத்திய உணவையே உண்ண வேண்டும். உண்ணும் முன் ‘அம்ருதோபஸ்தரணமஸி’ என்று சொல்லி ஆபோசனம் செய்ய வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• पथ्यम्: wholesome
• पथ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रभुञ्जीत: should eat/partake
• प्रभुञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should partake/eat’

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वाचः यतः (speech-restrained); कर्तृविशेषण

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• असुत्सयनम्: not raising/without lifting (text uncertain)
• असुत्सयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + उत्सयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष: न उत्सयनम्; विशेषण (reading/meaning uncertain)

• अमृतोपस्तरणम्: (this is) the ‘amṛta-covering/spread’
• अमृतोपस्तरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपस्तरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अमृतस्य उपस्तरणम्; मन्त्रपद (predicate)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘you are’ (mantra address)

• अपोशानम्: apośāna (sipping water)
• अपोशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपोशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• भुजेः: of eating/for the eater (text uncertain)
• भुजेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्/ल्युट्-सम्बन्धी न; अत्र ‘भुज्’ धातोः षष्ठी एकवचन रूपं (भुजेः) इव—‘भोजनस्य’ इत्यर्थे; रूपव्याख्या पाठानुसार अनिश्चित

• पुरः: before/in front
• पुरः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/postposition): ‘पूर्वम्/समक्षम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the discipline of dharma and ritual conduct)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It treats eating as a sacred act: purity (āpośāna), self-control (restrained speech), and reverence toward food together convert a daily necessity into dharmic practice.

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

By insisting on purity and gratitude before consumption, it cultivates a devotional temperament—seeing nourishment as sanctified and avoiding contempt, which supports a mind fit for remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā and ritual procedure are implied through correct recitation and performance of āpośāna with the formula “amṛtopastaraṇam asi,” emphasizing disciplined, mantra-guided daily rites.