Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

तत्प्रयच्छेल्लिखित्वा यः सौवर्णकरिसंयुतम् । कार्तिक्यां द्विजवर्याय स लभेंद्ब्रह्मणः पदम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tatprayacchellikhitvā yaḥ sauvarṇakarisaṃyutam | kārtikyāṃ dvijavaryāya sa labheṃdbrahmaṇaḥ padam || 18 ||

Translation

ผู้ใดให้คัดลอกคัมภีร์นี้แล้วถวาย พร้อมช้างทองคำ แก่พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐในเดือนการ์ตติกะ ผู้นั้นย่อมบรรลุถึงฐานะของพระพรหม

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (refers to the written item)

• प्रयच्छेत्: should give, should offer
• प्रयच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √यम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having done)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• सौवर्ण-करि-संयुतम्: joined with a golden elephant (ornament/figure)
• सौवर्ण-करि-संयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + करि (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् धातु-कृत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विशेषण-समाहार: 'सौवर्णेन करिणा संयुतम्' / 'golden-elephant-attached'); विशेषण of 'तत्' (the item to be given)

• कार्तिक्याम्: in Kārtikī (month/season)
• कार्तिक्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण (time)

• द्विज-वर्याय: to an excellent Brahmin
• द्विज-वर्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: 'वर्यः द्विजः' = excellent Brahmin)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• लभेत्: may obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman / of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• पदम्: state, abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārttika-vrata (month-long sanctity implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Brahmana (Dvija)

FAQs

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

It presents a dāna-vidhi (injunction on gifting) with a clear phala-śruti: sponsoring the writing of a sacred text and gifting it—along with an auspicious, high-value symbol (a golden elephant)—to a worthy Brāhmaṇa in Kārttika yields the reward of attaining Brahmā’s abode (Brahmaloka).

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

Although framed as charitable ritual (dāna), it supports bhakti in practice by honoring sacred scripture and serving a qualified Brāhmaṇa; the devotion is expressed through reverence for dharma, sacred learning, and pious giving during Kārttika, a month widely associated with intensified religious observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the timing (Kārttika-māsa), the prescribed recipient (dvija-varya), and the defined gift-combination (written text + sauvarṇa-kari), illustrating how Purāṇic dharma uses ritual specification to structure meritorious acts.