Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाच्छतं मिष्टान्नपायसैः । दक्षिणां प्रददेच्छक्त्या भक्त्या प्रीयेत माधवः ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānbhojayetpaścācchataṃ miṣṭānnapāyasaiḥ | dakṣiṇāṃ pradadecchaktyā bhaktyā prīyeta mādhavaḥ || 42 ||

Translation

ภายหลังพึงเลี้ยงพราหมณ์หนึ่งร้อยด้วยอาหารหวานและข้าวน้ำนม (ปายสะ) และพึงถวายทักษิณาตามกำลัง ด้วยภักติดังนี้ มาธวะ (วิษณุ) ย่อมทรงพอพระทัย

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative (प्रेरणार्थक), विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, एकवचन

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: afterwards)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• miṣṭa-anna-pāyasaiḥ: with sweets, food, and rice-pudding
• miṣṭa-anna-pāyasaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: miṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक) + pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• dakṣiṇām: a fee/donation (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• pradadet: should give
• pradadet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, एकवचन

• śaktyā: according to ability
• śaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• prīyeta: may be pleased
• prīyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prī (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, एकवचन

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava (Vishnu)
• mādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic sequence; traditional dialogue context with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Madhava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that honoring brāhmaṇas through feeding and dakṣiṇā—done with sincere bhakti and within one’s means—is a concrete dharmic act that pleases Mādhava (Viṣṇu).

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

Bhakti is shown not only as inner feeling but as devotional service: offering nourishing food and respectful gifts as an act of worship, with the intention of pleasing Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct): proper hospitality (bhojana) and prescribed gifting (dakṣiṇā) performed ‘according to śakti,’ emphasizing disciplined, rule-based devotion rather than mere sentiment.