Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

एकाहमपि यत्कुर्याद्भूमिस्थमुदकं नरः । स मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यः शतवर्षं वसेद्दिवि ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

ekāhamapi yatkuryādbhūmisthamudakaṃ naraḥ | sa muktaḥ sarvapāpebhyaḥ śatavarṣaṃ vaseddivi || 56 ||

Translation

ولو ليومٍ واحد، إن قام المرءُ بفعلِ سكبِ الماء على الأرض كقربانٍ مقدّس، تحرّر من جميع الخطايا وأقام في السماء مئةَ سنة.

Word by Word

• eka-aham: for one day
• eka-aham: Karma (कर्म/Object of time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (one-day)

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

• yat: whatever (that which)
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bhūmi-stham: situated on the ground
• bhūmi-stham: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भूमौ स्थितम्)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• muktaḥ: freed
• muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muc (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sarva-pāpebhyaḥ: from all sins
• sarva-pāpebhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• śata-varṣam: for a hundred years
• śata-varṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object of time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (hundred years)

• vaset: should dwell
• vaset: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• divi: in heaven
• divi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even a very simple, accessible act—offering water in a prescribed sacred manner—can function as a powerful prayāścitta (expiation), leading to purification from pāpa and the accrual of puṇya.

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

While the verse is framed as karma/ritual merit, it supports bhakti culture by highlighting sincerity in small offerings; such acts are traditionally performed with remembrance of the deity and reverence, aligning action with devotional intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kalpa/prayoga (procedural ritual knowledge)—how offerings like udaka are to be placed/offered—rather than grammar or astrology, stressing correct performance of a simple rite.