Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
यद्दानं श्रद्धया दत्तं तथा विष्णुसमर्पणम् । याचितं वापि पात्रेण भवेत्तद्दानमुत्तमम् ॥ १९ ॥
yaddānaṃ śraddhayā dattaṃ tathā viṣṇusamarpaṇam | yācitaṃ vāpi pātreṇa bhavettaddānamuttamam || 19 ||
যে দান শ্রদ্ধায় দেওয়া হয় এবং ভগবান বিষ্ণুর উদ্দেশে সমর্পিত হয়—যোগ্য পাত্র চাইলে তবুও—সেই দানই সর্বোত্তম।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It defines ‘uttama-dāna’ as charity rooted in śraddhā and consecrated to Vishnu, making the act spiritually elevating rather than merely social or transactional.
By turning giving into viṣṇu-samarpaṇa (offering to Vishnu), it frames charity as an act of bhakti—where intention and dedication to the Lord purify the deed.
It highlights ritual discernment central to Dharma-śāstra practice—especially the concept of pātra (worthy recipient) and śraddhā (proper intention) as criteria for the fruit of dāna.