Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

वक्तव्या मधुरा वाणी तेष्वप्यभ्यागतेषु तु । जलान्नकंदमूलैर्वा गृहदानेन चार्चयेत् ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

vaktavyā madhurā vāṇī teṣvapyabhyāgateṣu tu | jalānnakaṃdamūlairvā gṛhadānena cārcayet || 71 ||

Translation

మధురమైన వాక్యమే పలకాలి; అనుకోకుండా వచ్చినవారికైనా నీరు, అన్నం, కందమూలాలు లేదా ఇంట్లో ఆశ్రయం ఇచ్చి యథాశక్తి గౌరవించాలి।

Word by Word

• वक्तव्या: should be spoken
• वक्तव्या: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्तव्य (कृदन्त; वच् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory: ‘to be spoken’)

• मधुरा: sweet
• मधुरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘वाणी’)

• वाणी: speech/words
• वाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तेषु: among them/towards them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘among them/towards them’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय (also/even)

• अभ्यागतेषु: when (they have) arrived / among the arrivals
• अभ्यागतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-आ-गम् (धातु) → अभ्यागत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle: ‘arrived’)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• जल-अन्न-कन्द-मूलैः: with water, food, tubers, or roots
• जल-अन्न-कन्द-मूलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (water, food, tubers, roots)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• गृह-दानॆन: by offering lodging/shelter
• गृह-दानॆन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘गृहस्य दानम्’/‘आश्रयदानम्’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अर्चयेत्: should honor
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should honor’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage in Book 1.1)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

FAQs

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

It presents atithi-sevā (service to guests) and madhura-vākya (sweet speech) as practical dharma that purifies the householder and turns everyday encounters into acts of worship (arcana).

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

By using the verb arayet/arcayet (to honor as worship), the verse frames hospitality and gentle speech as bhakti-in-action—treating the arriving person with reverence and service rather than indifference.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga passage, it reflects the applied ethics of Vedic discipline—right speech (connected with śikṣā as careful, cultured expression) and proper conduct for household ritual life through dana and reception of guests.