Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधायुतफलं भवेत्तस्य जनेश्वर । भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैः फलैर्वापि शून्यं लिङ्गं प्रपूज्य च ॥ १२५ ॥

Transliteration

aśvamedhāyutaphalaṃ bhavettasya janeśvara | bhakṣyairbhojyaiḥ phalairvāpi śūnyaṃ liṅgaṃ prapūjya ca || 125 ||

Translation

人中之主啊：若有人以食物、熟食或果品等朴素供养，仍如法礼敬那无相未显之林伽，则其所得果报等同于一万次马祭（Aśvamedha）。

Word by Word

• aśvamedhāyutaphalam: the fruit of ten-thousand Aśvamedhas
• aśvamedhāyutaphalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvamedha + ayuta + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (fruit equal to ten-thousand Aśvamedhas)

• bhavet: would be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• tasya: of him/of that (act)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitival)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• janeśvara: O lord of men
• janeśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (lord of people)

• bhakṣyaiḥ: with eatables
• bhakṣyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• bhojyaiḥ: with foods (to be eaten)
• bhojyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• phalaiḥ: with fruits
• phalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (additive particle)

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prapūjya: having duly worshipped
• prapūjya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic passage; addressing a king/householder as 'janeśvara')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Linga)
• Ashvamedha

FAQs

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

It elevates sincere Liṅga-pūjā—performed even with modest offerings—by declaring its merit comparable to vast Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing inner devotion over ritual expense.

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

By stating that fruits, food, or simple edibles are sufficient for great spiritual reward, the verse teaches accessibility of worship: heartfelt reverence to the Liṅga is paramount, not opulence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-style procedure) is implied: proper pūjā (prapūjya) with permissible naivedya offerings (bhakṣya, bhojya, phala) and the doctrine of ritual fruit (phala-śruti).