Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
द्विजाय वृत्तिहीनाय यः प्रदद्यान्महीं बले । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं न क्षमोऽब्दशतैरहम् ॥ २८ ॥
dvijāya vṛttihīnāya yaḥ pradadyānmahīṃ bale | tasya puṇyaphalaṃ vaktuṃ na kṣamo'bdaśatairaham || 28 ||
Wer nach Kräften und Mitteln einem zweimal Geborenen (Brāhmaṇa) ohne Lebensunterhalt Land schenkt—das Verdienst, das aus dieser Gabe entsteht, vermag ich selbst in Hunderten von Jahren nicht vollständig auszusprechen.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dāna-dharma)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates bhū-dāna (gifting land) as an exceptionally powerful act of dāna, especially when directed to a worthy dvija who lacks livelihood, declaring its merit to be practically immeasurable.
By emphasizing selfless support of the righteous and needy, it frames charity as a dharmic expression that purifies the heart—an essential support for steady devotion, even when the verse itself speaks primarily in terms of puṇya.
It applies dharma-śāstric discernment in dāna: choosing a qualified recipient (vṛttihīna dvija) and giving according to capacity (bale), reflecting the practical rule-based reasoning used in Vedic ritual ethics rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.