Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

पाककर्तुः परस्यार्थे कवये गदहारिणे । अभक्ष्य भक्षकस्यापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

pākakartuḥ parasyārthe kavaye gadahāriṇe | abhakṣya bhakṣakasyāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 11 ||

Translation

Eine Gabe wird fruchtlos, wenn sie einem gegeben wird, der für den Nutzen eines anderen kocht, einem Söldnerdichter, einem keulentragenden Raufbold oder auch einem, der Verbotenes isst.

Word by Word

• पाक-कर्तुः: of a cook
• पाक-कर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाकस्य कर्ता)

• परस्य: of another
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अर्थे इति)

• अर्थे: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• कवये: to a poet
• कवये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्प्रदानम्

• गद-हारिणे: to one who carries a mace
• गद-हारिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गदायाः हारी)

• अभक्ष्य: forbidden (to eat)
• अभक्ष्य: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (contextual), एकवचन; ‘अभक्ष्य-भक्षकस्य’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• भक्षकस्य: of an eater/consumer
• भक्षकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• दत्तम्: a gift; what is given
• दत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दानम्’ अर्थे

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: Karta-pradhana Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दत्तम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches dāna-śuddhi: charity bears spiritual merit only when offered to a worthy recipient with righteous conduct; giving to unethical or impure recipients becomes niṣphala (fruitless).

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

Bhakti is expressed through sattvic living—offerings and gifts aligned with dharma. A devotee’s giving should support virtue and purity, not flattery, violence, or forbidden habits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstric application (often supported by Kalpa: rules of conduct and ritual propriety): selecting qualified recipients and avoiding gifts that violate purity norms.