Shloka 12

Śikṣā-nirūpaṇa (Exposition of Discipline): Son’s Marriage, Paternal Duty, and Royal Administration

Devanagari script

सर्वक्रतुफलं तस्य पुत्रोद्वाहे कृते भवेत् । पुत्रस्य गुणयुक्तस्य निर्गुणस्यापि भूसुर ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sarvakratuphalaṃ tasya putrodvāhe kṛte bhavet | putrasya guṇayuktasya nirguṇasyāpi bhūsura || 12 ||

Translation

โอ้พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ เมื่อได้จัดพิธีสมรสให้บุตรแล้ว ย่อมได้ผลบุญแห่งยัญทั้งปวง—ไม่ว่าบุตรจะมีคุณธรรมพร้อมหรือแม้ไร้คุณธรรมก็ตาม।

Word by Word

• sarva-kratu-phalam: the fruit of all sacrifices
• sarva-kratu-phalam: Karta (कर्ता; of bhavet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kratu (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘fruit of all sacrifices’

• tasya: for him / of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• putra-udvāhe: in (the act of) marrying the son
• putra-udvāhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + udvāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘in the son’s marriage’

• kṛte: when (it is) done
• kṛte: Kāla (काल; when)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular, Neuter/Masculine; used in locative absolute with putrodvāhe: ‘when done’

• bhavet: would be / accrues
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• putrasya: of the son
• putrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• guṇa-yuktasya: of a virtuous/qualified (son)
• guṇa-yuktasya: Viśeṣaṇa of putrasya (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (√yuj, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘endowed with qualities’

• nirguṇasya: of a quality-less (son)
• nirguṇasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; agreeing with putrasya (understood)

• api: even
• api: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अपि; ‘even/also’)

• bhūsura: O Brahmin
• bhūsura: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūsura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address to a Brahmin

Speaker

Sage Narada (in dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition; Uttara-Bhaga discourse style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse elevates putra-udvāha (a key gṛhastha-saṃskāra) as a powerful dharmic act whose merit equals the collective fruit of many Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing household duty as a legitimate spiritual path.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma by showing that sincere performance of prescribed duties (as an offering within dharma) generates great merit; in Purāṇic framing, such merit becomes a support for devotion and sattva.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (the Vedāṅga of ritual procedure) through the emphasis on saṃskāra—specifically marriage rites—showing that correct performance of household rituals is treated as spiritually efficacious.