Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 122

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

विप्राय दीयमाने तु यस्तु विघ्नं समाचरेत् । ब्रह्महत्यासमं तेन कर्त्तव्यं व्रतमेव च ॥ १२२ ॥

Transliteration

viprāya dīyamāne tu yastu vighnaṃ samācaret | brahmahatyāsamaṃ tena karttavyaṃ vratameva ca || 122 ||

Translation

Wenn jedoch, während eine Gabe einem Brāhmaṇa dargebracht wird, jemand absichtlich ein Hindernis schafft, so ist dies für ihn der Sünde der brahma-hatyā (Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa) gleich; daher muss er gewiss ein Sühnegelübde (Vrata) auf sich nehmen.

Word by Word

• विप्राय: to a Brahmin
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• दीयमाने: while being given
• दीयमाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दीयमान (कृदन्त, वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त/Present passive participle)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य; सति-सप्तमी—'when (a gift) is being given'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• विघ्नम्: an obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should commit/practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्महत्यासमम्: equal to brahmin-slaying (in sin)
• ब्रह्महत्यासमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्महत्यया समम् (equal to brahmahatyā)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; 'by him/therefore'

• कर्तव्यं: should be performed
• कर्तव्यं: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्/gerundive)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय—'to be done/should be performed'

• व्रतम्: a vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेयवस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तव्यं (predicate complement)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching dharma regarding dāna and its protection)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Brahma-hatyā (as a sin category)

FAQs

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

It elevates dāna (charitable giving) to a protected sacred act: obstructing a rightful gift to a brāhmaṇa is treated as a grave karmic offense, requiring prāyaścitta through vrata.

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

By insisting that sacred giving must not be hindered, it supports bhakti as lived dharma—serving the holy and sustaining religious acts; protecting dāna becomes a practical expression of reverence and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) and Dharma-śāstra practice are implied: the verse frames correct conduct around dāna and prescribes vrata (expiatory observance) as the ritual-legal remedy for violations.