Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Pūrṇimā Pūrṇa-vratas: Dharmarāja-vrata, Vaṭa-Sāvitrī-vrata, and Gopadma-vrata

Devanagari script

दद्याद्गोदानफलदं धर्मराजस्य तुष्टये । अत्र कृष्णाजिनं दद्यात्सखुरं च सश्रृङ्गकम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

dadyādgodānaphaladaṃ dharmarājasya tuṣṭaye | atra kṛṣṇājinaṃ dadyātsakhuraṃ ca saśrṛṅgakam || 5 ||

Translation

Um Dharmarāja (Yamarāja) zu erfreuen, soll man eine Gabe darbringen, deren Verdienst dem der Kuhspende gleicht. In diesem Ritus soll man ein schwarzes Antilopenfell (kṛṣṇājina) darreichen, vollständig mit Hufen und auch mit Hörnern.

Word by Word

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• गोदान-फलदम्: granting the fruit of cow-gift
• गोदान-फलदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोदान (प्रातिपदिक) + फलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्मराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तुष्टये: for satisfaction
• तुष्टये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्र: here; in this rite
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• कृष्णाजिनम्: black antelope-skin
• कृष्णाजिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-खुरम्: with hooves
• स-खुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक) + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-विशेषण ‘स-’ = ‘सहित’ (with)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• स-शृङ्गकम्: with horns
• स-शृङ्गकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक) + शृङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘स-’ = ‘सहित’ (with)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara brothers, within the Adhyaya’s ritual/summary context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly intended and ritually appropriate charity (dāna) can generate merit comparable to the revered go-dāna, specifically aimed at pleasing Dharmarāja, the lord of moral order and karmic justice.

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

While not explicitly bhakti-centered, it supports devotional life indirectly by emphasizing dharma-based conduct and pure intention; such merit and discipline are presented in Purāṇic teaching as supportive foundations for higher spiritual practice, including devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in prescribing the exact form of a gift—kṛṣṇājina with specified parts—showing how ritual details and correct specifications are treated as essential in dharma-śāstra style practice.