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

Nếu tận mắt nhìn thấy người chồng quyến luyến người phụ nữ khác, thì thà rằng tất cả các mẹ của con chết cùng một lúc còn hơn.

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.