Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

श्राद्धार्थं समनुज्ञातो विप्रान्भूयो निमंत्रयेत् । उभौ च विश्वेदेवार्थं पित्रर्थं त्रीन्यथाविधि ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhārthaṃ samanujñāto viprānbhūyo nimaṃtrayet | ubhau ca viśvedevārthaṃ pitrarthaṃ trīnyathāvidhi || 31 ||

Translation

شِرادھ کے لیے اجازت پا کر پھر وِپرَوں کو دوبارہ بلائے: وِشویدیو کے لیے دو، اور پِترَوں کے لیے قاعدے کے مطابق تین۔

Word by Word

• श्राद्धार्थम्: for the purpose of śrāddha
• श्राद्धार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धार्थ (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (श्राद्धस्य अर्थः)

• समनुज्ञातः: having been duly permitted
• समनुज्ञातः: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अनु-ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि/कर्मणि-प्रयोगानुसार ‘having been duly permitted/approved’

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘again/more’

• निमंत्रयेत्: should invite
• निमंत्रयेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उभौ: both (two persons)
• उभौ: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; ‘both (two)’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विश्वेदेवार्थम्: for the Viśvedevas
• विश्वेदेवार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेदेव-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; विश्वेदेव + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विश्वेदेवानाम् अर्थः)

• पित्रर्थम्: for the ancestors
• पित्रर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पितॄणाम् अर्थः)

• त्रीन्: three (persons)
• त्रीन्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• यथा: according to
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘according to’

• विधि: the prescribed rule
• विधि: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner; as per rule)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘यथाविधि’ इति प्रयोगः (idiomatic)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the proper procedure of Śrāddha within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrāddha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Viśvedevas
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śrāddha is a rule-governed act of dharma: inviting qualified brāhmaṇas in the prescribed numbers supports the correct dedication of offerings to both the Viśvedevas and the Pitṛs, ensuring the rite bears its intended ancestral and cosmic merit.

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

While primarily ritual in focus, the verse reflects bhakti through reverent obedience to śāstra: honoring the Pitṛs and the deities (Viśvedevas) with discipline and humility is treated as a devotional expression of gratitude and sacred duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure): the precise, injunction-based details—such as authorized permission and fixed numbers of invitees—are core features of Vedic ritual science applied to Śrāddha.