Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
सक्ताय देवपूजासु वृत्तिहीनाय दैत्यप । स्वल्पामपि महीं दद्याद्यः स विष्णुर्न संशयः ॥ २९ ॥
saktāya devapūjāsu vṛttihīnāya daityapa | svalpāmapi mahīṃ dadyādyaḥ sa viṣṇurna saṃśayaḥ || 29 ||
O Herr der Daityas! Wer auch nur ein kleines Stück Land einem der Götterverehrung Hingebenden schenkt, der ohne Lebensunterhalt ist—der ist wahrlich Viṣṇu selbst, ohne Zweifel.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It declares that sustaining sacred worship through land-gift (bhū-dāna), even in a small measure, is so meritorious that the giver is praised as embodying Viṣṇu—because they uphold dharma and enable continuous devapūjā.
Bhakti is shown as practical support for worship: honoring and empowering those devoted to divine service. By providing livelihood to a devapūjaka, the donor participates in the devotion-centered ecosystem and is identified with Viṣṇu’s grace.
Ritual application (Kalpa) is implied: charity is not random but targeted to sustain ongoing worship and prescribed rites; the verse emphasizes dharmic criteria for giving—supporting qualified worshippers who lack means.