Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

मद्यमांसाशिनश्चापि स्त्रीविटस्यातिलोभिनः । चौरस्य पिशुनस्यापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

madyamāṃsāśinaścāpi strīviṭasyātilobhinaḥ | caurasya piśunasyāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 17 ||

Translation

وإن أُعطيَت العطيّةُ فإنها تصير بلا ثمرة إذا قُدِّمت لشارب الخمر وآكل اللحم، أو للزاني، أو للشديد الطمع، أو للسارق، أو للنمّام القاذف.

Word by Word

• madyamāṃsāśinaḥ: of the eater of meat and alcohol
• madyamāṃsāśinaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madyamāṃsāśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• strīviṭasya: of a womanizer/paramour
• strīviṭasya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Noun
• Root: strīviṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• atilobhinaḥ: of the excessively greedy
• atilobhinaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atilobhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• caurasya: of a thief
• caurasya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Noun
• Root: caura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• piśunasya: of a spy/slanderer
• piśunasya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• dattam: given (charity)
• dattam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present/लट), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular (एकवचन)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) is not only about giving, but also about discernment: when offered to those rooted in harmful conduct, the act fails to yield spiritual merit (puṇya) and becomes niṣphala.

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

Bhakti is supported by sattvic discipline and right conduct; this verse warns that indiscriminate giving that enables adharmic behavior does not nourish devotion, whereas mindful charity aligns one’s resources with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric ethics—evaluating eligibility (pātratā) so that dāna produces intended religious results.