Shloka 78

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

नाव्रतेन दिनं विष्णोर्नेयं मनुजसत्तम । ते गृहस्था द्विजा ज्ञेया येषामग्निपरिग्रहः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

nāvratena dinaṃ viṣṇorneyaṃ manujasattama | te gṛhasthā dvijā jñeyā yeṣāmagniparigrahaḥ || 78 ||

Translation

மனிதரில் சிறந்தவனே, விஷ்ணுவுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்த விரதமின்றி ஒரு நாளும் கழிக்கக் கூடாது. விதிப்படி அக்னியை நிறுவி அதை பேணும் இருபிறப்பினர் தான் உண்மையான இல்லறத்தார் என அறியப்படுவர்.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• vratena: by/with a vow (observance)
• vratena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• dinam: a day
• dinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• iyam: this (is)
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• manuja-sattama: O best of men
• manuja-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuja (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (manujānāṃ sattamaḥ)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• gṛhasthāḥ: householders
• gṛhasthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brāhmaṇas etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• jñeyāḥ: should be known (as)
• jñeyāḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-अर्थे भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक-विशेषण; कृदन्तः (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (to be known/should be known)

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• agni-parigrahaḥ: the keeping/maintenance of the sacred fire
• agni-parigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (agner parigrahaḥ)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadeśa dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that time becomes spiritually fruitful when daily life is anchored in Viṣṇu-oriented vrata (disciplined devotion), and that a genuine gṛhastha is defined by sustained sacred duty—especially the maintenance of consecrated fire rites.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as regular, rule-guided practice: not letting a day pass without some Viṣṇu-vrata (fast, worship, japa, pūjā, or restraint), turning household routine into continuous remembrance and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline is emphasized—agni-parigraha points to Śrauta/Gṛhya procedure (kalpa-based practice) such as establishing and tending sacred fires, indicating that correct observance and continuity of rites are essential marks of gṛhastha dharma.