Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

दानं दद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथा यज्ञैर्यजेत्सुरान् । वृत्त्यर्थं याचयेच्चैव अन्यानध्यापयेत्तथा ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

dānaṃ dadyādbrāhmaṇebhyastathā yajñairyajetsurān | vṛttyarthaṃ yācayeccaiva anyānadhyāpayettathā || 19 ||

Translation

Man soll den Brahmanen Gaben spenden und ebenso die Götter durch Opfer (Yajñas) verehren. Zum Lebensunterhalt darf man auch um Almosen bitten und ebenso andere lehren.

Word by Word

• dānam: charity/gift
• dānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama Purusha), Singular

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural

• tathā: similarly/and
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Conjunction

• yajñaiḥ: through sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama Purusha), Singular

• surān: the gods
• surān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vṛttyartham: for the sake of livelihood
• vṛttyartham: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛttyartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage (Kriya-visheshana)

• yācayet: should ask/beg
• yācayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (धातु)
• Form: Optative Mood (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama Purusha), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis)

• anyān: others
• anyān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• adhyāpayet: should teach
• adhyāpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (with adhi prefix, causal) (धातु)
• Form: Causal Optative (Nijanta Vidhilin), 3rd Person, Singular

• tathā: also/similarly
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the teaching tradition; instruction presented as dharma-teaching within the Purāṇic discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Deva (Sura)
• Yajña

FAQs

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

It frames dharmic life as a balance of giving (dāna), sacred obligation (yajña), and preserving knowledge through teaching—so one’s livelihood aligns with religious duty rather than mere profit.

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

While it is not a direct bhakti-verse, it supports devotion by prescribing yajña and charity as offerings done in a sacred spirit; such regulated conduct (ācāra) becomes a foundation for God-centered living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to yajña-performance and adhyāpana (teaching), which practically rely on Vedāṅga competencies—especially Śikṣā (proper recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (correct language) for transmitting and applying Vedic texts.