Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

दंडाग्रं च दधीदं च मधूदकं पित्रर्षभः । होतॄकारस्तथा सेयं लांगलीषा मनीषया ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

daṃḍāgraṃ ca dadhīdaṃ ca madhūdakaṃ pitrarṣabhaḥ | hotṝkārastathā seyaṃ lāṃgalīṣā manīṣayā || 25 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng Pitṛ, còn có các danh xưng: “đầu gậy” (daṇḍāgra), “người ban sữa chua” (dadhīda) và “nước mật” (madhūdaka). Cũng vậy, công thức Hotṛ (hotṝkāra) và “lāṅgalīṣā” này được hiểu nhờ trí tuệ suy niệm.

Word by Word

• daṇḍa-agram: tip/end of a staff
• daṇḍa-agram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'daṇḍasya agraṃ'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• dadhīdam: dadhīda (a cited form/example)
• dadhīdam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhīda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); lexical item (example-word)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• madhu-udakam: honey-water
• madhu-udakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'madhunaḥ udakam'

• pitṛ-arṣabhaḥ: O best of fathers
• pitṛ-arṣabhaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + arṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधनार्थक/सम्बोधन-सदृश usage: 'O bull among fathers'

• hotṛ-kāraḥ: the utterance/form 'hotṛ-kāra'
• hotṛ-kāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hotṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'hotṛ' + 'kāra' (making/uttering)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• sā: she/that (f.)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• iyam: this (f.)
• iyam: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (deictic)

• lāṃgalī-īṣā: plough-shaft
• lāṃgalī-īṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāṃgalī (प्रातिपदिक) + īṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'lāṃgalyāḥ īṣā' (shaft/pole of a plough)

• manīṣayā: by intellect/insight
• manīṣayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; instructional listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Hotr

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs specific ritual/technical designations (offerings and recitational forms) and emphasizes that their proper meaning is grasped through manīṣā—discerning understanding—linking correct practice with inner clarity.

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

Indirectly: it frames ritual elements and sacred utterances as meaningful when approached with reverent insight, supporting bhakti as informed worship rather than mere mechanical performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual-recitation knowledge connected to Vedic liturgy (Hotṛ/ṛgvedic formulae) and technical nomenclature—domains typically clarified through Vedāṅga disciplines like Śikṣā (recitation) and Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta (technical meaning).