Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

उशन्त इत्यृचावाह्य पितॄन्विप्रः समाहितः । या दिव्या इति मंत्रेण दद्यादर्घ्यं च पूर्ववत् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

uśanta ityṛcāvāhya pitṝnvipraḥ samāhitaḥ | yā divyā iti maṃtreṇa dadyādarghyaṃ ca pūrvavat || 44 ||

Translation

‘اُشَنت…’ والی رِک سے پِتروں کو آواہن کرکے یکسو برہمن ‘یا دِویَا…’ منتر کے ساتھ پہلے کی طرح ارغیہ پیش کرے۔

Word by Word

• उशन्तः: ‘the desiring/pleased ones’ (as in the ṛc)
• उशन्तः: Karta (कर्ता; within quoted ṛc)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; मन्त्रपद-आरम्भ (as in ṛc)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• ऋचा: with the ṛc (hymn)
• ऋचा: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; ‘with a ṛc (Vedic verse)’

• आह्वाय: having invoked
• आह्वाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ह्वा (धातु) → आह्वाय (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having invoked/called’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (Pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विप्रः: the brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समाहितः: composed, attentive
• समाहितः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+आ+धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘collected/concentrated’

• या: she who / which
• या: Karta (कर्ता; within quoted mantra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative/relative in mantra-quote

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying ‘या’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दद्यात्: should offer
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (water-offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: as before)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It teaches that Pitṛ-tarpaṇa is not merely pouring water but a mantra-guided act of reverence—invoking the Pitṛs properly and then offering arghya with focused mind (samāhita), which makes the rite spiritually effective.

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

Though primarily ritual, it reflects bhakti through śraddhā and disciplined remembrance—serving the lineage and cosmic order respectfully; such dharmic worship supports purity of mind that is favorable for Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual sequencing: correct invocation (āvāhana) using a specific Ṛk, followed by a prescribed arghya-mantra, performed pūrvavat (according to earlier procedural rules).