Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

स्वल्पामपि महीं दत्त्वा श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये । ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

svalpāmapi mahīṃ dattvā śrotriyāyāhitāgnaye | brahmalokamavāpnoti punarāvṛttidurlabham || 24 ||

Translation

Selbst wer einem śrotriya-Brāhmaṇa, der die Veden kennt und die heiligen Feuer bewahrt, auch nur ein kleines Stück Land schenkt, gelangt nach Brahmaloka — einem Zustand, aus dem die Rückkehr in wiederholte Geburten schwer ist.

Word by Word

• स्वल्पाम्: small
• स्वल्पाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of महीम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक (particle: even)

• महीम्: land, earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दा (ददाति) (धातु) → दत्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having given'

• श्रोत्रियाय: to a learned Vedic man
• श्रोत्रियाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• आहिताग्नये: to one who has established the sacred fires
• आहिताग्नये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहित + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; (आहिताः अग्नयः यस्य) इति—विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √आप् (आप्नोति) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्: hard to return from (rarely returned)
• पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ब्रह्मलोकम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनरावृत्ति + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ब्रह्मलोकम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma/Dāna context, within the Narada Purana’s instructional dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Shrotriya
• Ahitagni

FAQs

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

It teaches that the spiritual potency of dāna depends not only on the object (even a small plot of land) but also on the worthiness of the recipient—specifically a śrotriya and āhitāgni—yielding exalted post-mortem attainment such as Brahmaloka.

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

While the verse is framed as dāna-dharma, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing selfless offering and reverence for Vedic holiness; such pure giving is aligned with sattva and prepares the mind for higher devotion and liberation-oriented goals.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual qualification and śrauta practice: the terms śrotriya (proper Vedic learning/transmission) and āhitāgni (maintenance of sacred fires/Agnihotra) reflect applied Vedic ritual discipline (kalpa/śrauta orientation) and the importance of correct recipient selection in dāna.