Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

तदन्नमत्यजन्भुक्त्वा गायत्र्यष्टशतं जपेत् । भुज्यमानेषु विप्रेषु कर्त्ता श्रद्धापरायणः ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

tadannamatyajanbhuktvā gāyatryaṣṭaśataṃ japet | bhujyamāneṣu vipreṣu karttā śraddhāparāyaṇaḥ || 65 ||

Translation

اسی کھانے کو ترک کیے بغیر (بے ادبی نہ کرتے ہوئے) کھا کر، کرتا شرَدھا میں ثابت قدم رہتے ہوئے گایتری منتر کا آٹھ سو بار جپ کرے، جب برہمنوں کو بھوجن کرایا جا رہا ہو۔

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘that’ qualifying अन्नम्

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अत्यजन्: without abandoning (it)
• अत्यजन्: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-त्यज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-समासार्थे वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) अव्ययीभाववत्; क्रियाविशेषण ‘not abandoning’ (absolutive sense)

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) ‘having eaten’

• गायत्री-अष्टशतम्: eight hundred (recitations) of the Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-अष्टशतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टशत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गायत्र्याः अष्टशतम् (eight hundred [recitations] of Gāyatrī)

• जपेत्: should recite/mutter
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुज्यमानेषु: while (they) are eating/being fed
• भुज्यमानेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (यमान) ‘being eaten/being fed’ (context: while they are being fed/eating)

• विप्रेषु: among the Brahmins
• विप्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• कर्त्ता: the performer (of the rite)
• कर्त्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• श्रद्धापरायणः: devoted to faith
• श्रद्धापरायणः: विशेषण (Adjective of कर्त्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: श्रद्धायां परायणः (devoted to faith)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction on śrāddha procedure, within the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrāddha (paitṛka rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It links external rite (feeding brāhmaṇas in śrāddha) with inner discipline (Gāyatrī-japa), teaching that reverent intent (śraddhā) and mantra-purification should accompany ritual charity.

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

Bhakti here appears as śraddhā-driven service: honoring sacred guests and sustaining a devotional mind through mantra-recitation while the rite is underway, so action becomes worship rather than mere formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes mantra-japa discipline and ritual timing—an applied aspect of Kalpa (ritual procedure) with correct observance of a prescribed count (aṣṭaśata) during śrāddha hospitality.