Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

दिवाशयनशीलस्य तथा मैथुनकारिणः । सध्याभोजिन एवापिदत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

divāśayanaśīlasya tathā maithunakāriṇaḥ | sadhyābhojina evāpidattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 14 ||

Translation

Eine Gabe wird fruchtlos, wenn sie einem gegeben wird, der gewohnheitsmäßig am Tage schläft, der sich sexueller Verfehlung hingibt, oder der regelmäßig zur Sandhyā‑Zeit (Morgen‑/Abenddämmerung) isst.

Word by Word

• दिवा-शयन-शीलस्य: of one habituated to sleeping by day
• दिवा-शयन-शीलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिवा शयनं यस्य शीलम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (likewise/also)

• मैथुन-कारिणः: of one who engages in sexual intercourse
• मैथुन-कारिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मैथुनं करोति)

• संध्या-भोजिनः: of one who eats at twilight
• संध्या-भोजिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संध्यायां भोजी)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

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

• 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 on dāna-dharma)

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 that dāna (charity) is not only about giving, but also about discernment: giving to a person devoted to tamasic habits and sandhyā-violations is said to yield no spiritual fruit (puṇya).

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

Bhakti is supported by śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct). The verse implies that gifts meant to sustain dharma should support disciplined living rather than habits that obstruct worship, sandhyā practices, and spiritual steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ācāra principles (ritual conduct) tied to sandhyā-kāla discipline—twilight junctions are traditionally reserved for sandhyā-vandana and restraint, not regular eating.