Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

नामविक्रयिणो विष्णोः संध्याकर्म्मोर्ज्झितस्य च । दुष्प्रतिग्रहदग्धस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nāmavikrayiṇo viṣṇoḥ saṃdhyākarmmorjjhitasya ca | duṣpratigrahadagdhasya dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 13 ||

Translation

Eine Gabe wird fruchtlos, wenn sie einem gegeben wird, der den heiligen Namen Viṣṇus verkauft, einem, der die Sandhyā‑Riten aufgegeben hat, oder einem, der durch das Annehmen unrechtmäßiger Gaben (duṣ-pratigraha) gleichsam „verbrannt“ ist.

Word by Word

• नाम-विक्रयिणः: of one who sells (divine) names
• नाम-विक्रयिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नः विक्रयी)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• संध्या-कर्म-उर्ज्झितस्य: of one who has abandoned the twilight rites
• संध्या-कर्म-उर्ज्झितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उर्ज्झित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संध्यायाः कर्म यत् तद् उर्ज्झितः=त्यक्तः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• दुष्-प्रतिग्रह-दग्धस्य: of one tainted by improper acceptance of gifts
• दुष्-प्रतिग्रह-दग्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुष्टः प्रतिग्रहः तेन दग्धः=कलुषितः)

• 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

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

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity is not only about the act of giving but also about the spiritual integrity of the recipient; gifts offered to those engaged in corrupt religious conduct lose their intended merit (puṇya).

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

By condemning the sale of Viṣṇu’s name, it protects bhakti as sincere remembrance and worship rather than a commercial transaction, emphasizing purity of intention and practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline is implied through Sandhyā-karma (Sandhyā-vandana), a daily nitya-karma grounded in Vedic practice; neglect of such obligatory rites is presented as a marker of adharmic conduct affecting religious merit.