Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

तस्य जानन्तिरागन्तोः कल्पयामास चार्हणम् । कन्दमूलफलाद्यैस्तु नारायणधिया मुने ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

tasya jānantirāgantoḥ kalpayāmāsa cārhaṇam | kandamūlaphalādyaistu nārāyaṇadhiyā mune || 38 ||

Translation

Nhận biết Ngài là vị khách vừa đến, nàng bèn sắp đặt lễ tiếp đãi xứng đáng—dâng củ, rễ, trái cây và các vật tương tự—hỡi bậc hiền triết, với tâm luôn an trú nơi Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (contextual)

• जानन्तिः: Jānanti (the sage)
• जानन्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानन्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आगन्तोः: of the guest/arriver
• आगन्तोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• कल्पयामास: arranged, prepared
• कल्पयामास: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्हणम्: honouring, respectful reception
• अर्हणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कन्द-मूल-फल-आद्यैः: with roots, tubers, fruits, etc.
• कन्द-मूल-फल-आद्यैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द + मूल + फल + आदि (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: बहुवचन (Plural), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective sense); समासः: तत्पुरुष (enumerative with 'ādi' = etc.)

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• नारायण-धिया: with devotion/thought of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-धिया: करण (Karana/Instrument; by means of devotion/thought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Nārāyaṇa-sambandhinī dhī = devotion/thought of Nārāyaṇa)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the account as part of the Purana dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

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

It teaches that honoring a guest (atithi) is itself a dharmic act, and when done with remembrance of Nārāyaṇa, even simple foods become spiritually sanctified.

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

Bhakti is shown as inner orientation: the offering is modest (roots and fruits), but the mind is absorbed in Nārāyaṇa, making the act true worship through intention and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily reflects smārta-prayoga (practical dharma) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; it emphasizes proper atithi-satkāra (guest reception) as a rule of conduct within ritual culture.