Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 127

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

Devanagari script

सत्पात्रे भूमिदाता यः सर्वदानफलं लभेत् । भूमिदानसमं नान्यत्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

satpātre bhūmidātā yaḥ sarvadānaphalaṃ labhet | bhūmidānasamaṃ nānyattriṣu lokeṣu vidyate || 27 ||

Translation

Wer einem würdigen Empfänger Land schenkt, erlangt die Frucht aller Gaben; in den drei Welten gibt es nichts, das der Landgabe gleichkommt.

Word by Word

• सत्पात्रे: in/unto a worthy recipient
• सत्पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—सत् पात्रम् (कर्मधारय)

• भूमिदाता: giver of land
• भूमिदाता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि + दाता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—भूमेः दाता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• सर्वदानफलम्: the fruit of all gifts
• सर्वदानफलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + दान + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां दानानां फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should obtain/may obtain’

• भूमिदानसमम्: equal to land-gift
• भूमिदानसमम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमिदान + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—भूमेः दानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + सम ‘equal to’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिषु: in the three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (लोक-शब्दानुसार), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• लोकेषु: worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘exists/is found’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in discourse to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It establishes bhūmi-dāna as the highest form of dāna when given to a satpātra, equating its merit with the combined fruits of all other charities across the three worlds.

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

By emphasizing pure intention and right giving to the worthy, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma: offerings made in a sacred spirit (to uphold dharma and support spiritual life) become powerful acts of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights dharmic procedure—proper eligibility (satpātra) and correct application of dāna—aligned with Kalpa (ritual duty and rules) rather than grammar or astrology.