Shloka 24

Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma

Devanagari script

यद्भर्तान्यांगनासंक्तो दृश्यते स्वेन चक्षुषा । वरं सर्वा मृताः पुत्र युगपन्मातरस्तव ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

yadbhartānyāṃganāsaṃkto dṛśyate svena cakṣuṣā | varaṃ sarvā mṛtāḥ putra yugapanmātarastava || 24 ||

Translation

اے بیٹے! اگر شوہر کو اپنی آنکھوں سے دوسری عورت میں مبتلا دیکھا جائے، تو تمہاری تمام ماؤں کا ایک ساتھ مر جانا ہی بہتر ہے۔

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द)

• bhartā: husband
• bhartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyā: by another (woman)
• anyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally

• aṅganā-saṃktaḥ: attached to a woman
• aṅganā-saṃktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkta (कृदन्त; √sañj/√saṅg ‘to attach’, past participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); aṅganāyāṃ saṃktaḥ (locative relation implied)

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• svena: with one’s own
• svena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); reflexive adjective

• cakṣuṣā: by the eye
• cakṣuṣā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• varam: better
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘better’

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mṛtāḥ: dead
• mṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ ‘to die’, past passive participle)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with sarvāḥ (mātaraḥ implied)

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• yugapat: at once
• yugapat: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yugapat (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• mātaraḥ: mothers
• mātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructional voice within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It stresses that sexual misconduct—being attached to another man’s wife—brings severe dishonor and grave sin; dharmic self-restraint is treated as foundational for spiritual progress.

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

Bhakti in the Purana is supported by purity of character (śīla); this verse implies that uncontrolled desire and immoral attachment obstruct devotion and merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technicality is taught in this verse; it functions as smṛti-style ethical instruction (sadācāra) relevant to dharma and social order.