Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

वर्षे तु कुर्वीत मातापित्रोस्तु सत्कृतिम् । अदैवं भोजयेच्छ्राद्धं पिण्डमेकं तु निर्वपेत् ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

varṣe tu kurvīta mātāpitrostu satkṛtim | adaivaṃ bhojayecchrāddhaṃ piṇḍamekaṃ tu nirvapet || 78 ||

Translation

Mỗi năm một lần, người ta nên kính lễ và phụng dưỡng cha mẹ cho đúng phép; trong lễ Śrāddha không dâng cúng chư thiên, hãy thết đãi người được mời và đặt một piṇḍa (viên cơm cúng) duy nhất.

Word by Word

• varṣe: in the year (annually)
• varṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunction (निपात)

• kurvīta: should do/perform
• kurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mātā-pitroḥ: of (one’s) mother and father
• mātā-pitroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual compound; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• sat-kṛtim: proper honoring/respectful reception
• sat-kṛtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• adaivam: without deity-invocation (non-daiva)
• adaivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally

• bhojayet: should feed (cause to eat)
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु) [causative]
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• piṇḍam: rice-ball offering
• piṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with piṇḍam

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• nirvapet: should offer/place down
• nirvapet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-vap (निर्+वप् धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-śāstra style exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Mātā
• Pitā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes pitṛ-dharma: annually honoring one’s parents/ancestors through a focused śrāddha, reinforcing gratitude, lineage duty, and the continuity of sacred obligations.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined dharma—serving and honoring parents and performing prescribed rites—seen in Purāṇic teaching as supportive conduct that steadies the mind for higher worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (Kalpa/śrauta-smārta application): the verse specifies an annual śrāddha format (adaiva) and the practical detail of offering a single piṇḍa.