Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

त्वया संमाननीया ये शासनीयाश्च ये यथा । तत्सर्वं मे महाभाग विस्तराद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

tvayā saṃmānanīyā ye śāsanīyāśca ye yathā | tatsarvaṃ me mahābhāga vistarādvaktumarhasi || 43 ||

Translation

噢大福德者，愿你为我详尽开示这一切：哪些人应受你尊敬，哪些人应受你惩戒，以及应以何种方式施行。

Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartr̥-karaṇa/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saṃmānanīyāḥ: to be honored
• saṃmānanīyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃmānanīya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < saṃ-√mān (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्/अनीयर्), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ye: who/which
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• śāsanīyāḥ: to be punished/ruled
• śāsanīyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāsanīya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < √śās (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/अनीयर्), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural (repeated)

• yathā: as/how
• yathā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; correlative to ‘ye’

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies ‘tat’ (tat sarvam)

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (enclitic)

• mahābhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahābhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘mahān bhāgaḥ yasya’, Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• vistarāt: in detail
• vistarāt: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; adverbial usage ‘in detail’

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• arhasi: you are worthy/should
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (questioning Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: jijnasa (inquisitive/reflective)

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as discernment: spiritual life requires knowing whom to revere and when corrective restraint is necessary, both performed according to right conduct (sadācāra).

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

By asking for detailed guidance on honoring and disciplining, the disciple seeks to align behavior with dharma—an essential foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti, where humility, respect for the worthy, and self-restraint support devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught in this verse; it emphasizes practical dharma-application—proper conduct, hierarchy of respect, and appropriate correction.