Shloka 29

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

ऊचुः सगद्गदां वाचं हितार्थं तनयस्य हि । अवश्यं तव वाक्यं हि कर्तव्यं न्यायसंयुतम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

ūcuḥ sagadgadāṃ vācaṃ hitārthaṃ tanayasya hi | avaśyaṃ tava vākyaṃ hi kartavyaṃ nyāyasaṃyutam || 29 ||

Translation

அவர்கள் மகனின் நலனுக்காக குரல் தடுக்கத் தடுக்கச் சொன்னார்கள்— “உன் சொல் நிச்சயம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட வேண்டும்; ஆனால் அது நீதியோடு இணைந்திருக்க வேண்டும்।”

Word by Word

• ūcuḥ: they said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• sa-gadgadām: with a stammering (voice)
• sa-gadgadām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gadgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: 'गद्गदया सह' = with stammering

• vācam: speech, words
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• hita-artham: for (his) benefit
• hita-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: हितस्य अर्थः = for welfare/benefit

• tanayasya: of the son
• tanayasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• avaśyam: certainly, necessarily
• avaśyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avaśyam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = necessarily

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vākyam: statement, word
• vākyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; here as subject of obligation

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• kartavyam: must be done, should be followed
• kartavyam: Vidhi/Obligation (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'to be done'

• nyāya-saṃyutam: joined with justice, proper
• nyāya-saṃyutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyāya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: न्यायेन संयुतम् = endowed with justice

Speaker

Unnamed speakers (plural) addressing a second person (tava), speaking for their son

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that truthfulness and honoring one’s word are virtuous only when aligned with nyāya (justice/dharma); emotion and familial concern must still be governed by righteousness.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense is not mere sentiment; it is devotion expressed through dharmic integrity—keeping promises and acting for others’ welfare without violating justice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds nyāya/nīti reasoning—practical discernment used in dharma—rather than a specific Vedāṅga ritual or technical science.