Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भोजयेन्मधुरैर्भोज्यैर्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् । दीर्घमायुरवाप्नोति वांछितां विंदति श्रियम् ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

bhojayenmadhurairbhojyairbrāhmaṇānvedapāragān | dīrghamāyuravāpnoti vāṃchitāṃ viṃdati śriyam || 123 ||

Translation

Bằng việc thết đãi các brāhmaṇa thông suốt Veda bằng những món ngọt ngon, người ấy được trường thọ và đạt được phúc lộc (śrī) như điều mong cầu.

Word by Word

• भोजयेत्: one should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु; causative/णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: “cause to eat/feed”), परस्मैपद

• मधुरैः: with sweet
• मधुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental plural: “with sweet…”)

• भोज्यैः: foods/edibles
• भोज्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (कृदन्त; भुज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (edibles/food items)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• वेद: Veda
• वेद: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• पारगान्: well-versed (in the Vedas)
• पारगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāra-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; समास: वेद-पारग (तत्पुरुष: “gone to the far shore of the Veda” = well-versed)

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āyuḥ)

• आयुः: life-span
• आयुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (object of avāpnoti)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाञ्छिताम्: desired
• वाञ्छिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāñchita (कृदन्त; वाञ्छ् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (desired)

• विन्दति: finds/obtains
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रियम्: prosperity/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Vedas
• Śrī (prosperity/Lakṣmī principle)

FAQs

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

It presents annadāna (offering food) to Veda-mastered brāhmaṇas as a dharmic act that generates puṇya, yielding both longevity and auspicious prosperity (śrī) as its fruit.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity, it supports bhakti through sevā: honoring sacred knowledge-bearers with humble service and generosity, a core devotional ethic that purifies intention and attracts auspiciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the applied side of Vedic discipline—proper dāna/annadāna within dharma-rites—where the worthiness of recipients (veda-pāraga brāhmaṇas) and the appropriate offering are emphasized as key ritual considerations.