Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

अपि चात्र यज्ञक्रियाभिर्देवताः प्रीयंते निवापेन पितरो । विद्याभ्यासश्रवणधारणेन ऋषयः अपत्योत्पादनेन प्रजापतिरिति ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

api cātra yajñakriyābhirdevatāḥ prīyaṃte nivāpena pitaro | vidyābhyāsaśravaṇadhāraṇena ṛṣayaḥ apatyotpādanena prajāpatiriti || 114 ||

Translation

此外，就此而言：诸天以祭祀仪轨（yajña）而欢喜；祖灵（pitṛ）以食供（nivāpa）而满足；诸仙圣（ṛṣi）以学习、聆听并持守圣智而欣悦；而生主（Prajāpati）则以繁衍子嗣而喜悦。

Word by Word

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘also/further’

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

• atra: here/in this context
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• yajña-kriyābhiḥ: by sacrificial rites
• yajña-kriyābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य क्रिया)

• devatāḥ: the deities
• devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• prīyante: are pleased
• prīyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prī (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• nivāpena: by offerings (to ancestors)
• nivāpena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पितृ-शब्द (irregular declension)

• vidyā-abhyāsa-śravaṇa-dhāraṇena: by study, listening, and retention of knowledge
• vidyā-abhyāsa-śravaṇa-dhāraṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समासान्त-प्रयोग), तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्व (practice, listening, retention) with vidyā as domain

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• apatya-utpādanena: by begetting offspring
• apatya-utpādanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apatya (प्रातिपदिक) + utpādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अपत्यस्य उत्पादनम्)

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्द (closure/quotative particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ
• Pitaraḥ
• Ṛṣayaḥ
• Prajāpati

FAQs

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

It maps four core obligations (to Devas, Pitṛs, Ṛṣis, and Prajāpati) to four concrete practices—ritual worship, ancestral offerings, Vedic learning, and responsible household life—showing how dharma harmonizes cosmic order and personal spiritual progress.

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

While not naming a single deity, it frames devotion as disciplined service: honoring divine powers through yajña, honoring lineage through Pitṛ-kārya, honoring the seers through svādhyāya, and honoring creation through progeny—actions that purify the heart and support steady bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes svādhyāya in three steps—abhyāsa (practice), śravaṇa (listening/recitation), and dhāraṇa (retention/memorization)—which aligns with Vedāṅga disciplines like Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) that preserve accurate transmission.