Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

अन्नदानरतौ नित्यं जलदानपरायणौ । तडागारामवप्रादौ नसंख्यातान्वितेनतुः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

annadānaratau nityaṃ jaladānaparāyaṇau | taḍāgārāmavaprādau nasaṃkhyātānvitenatuḥ || 10 ||

Translation

They ever delighted in anna-dāna, the gift of food, and were wholly devoted to jala-dāna, the gift of water; and they performed countless meritorious deeds, providing ponds, gardens, and wells for the public good.

Word by Word

• अन्न-दान-रतौ: engaged in giving food
• अन्न-दान-रतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (annadāne ratau)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया (adverbial)

• जल-दान-परायणौ: devoted to giving water
• जल-दान-परायणौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (jaladāne parāyaṇau)

• तडाग-आराम-वप्र-आदौ: in ponds, gardens, embankments, etc.
• तडाग-आराम-वप्र-आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक) + आराम (प्रातिपदिक) + वप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (taḍāgaś ca ārāmaś ca vapraś ca) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संख्यात-अन्वितेन: with (things) counted/numbered
• संख्यात-अन्वितेन: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्यात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (saṃkhyātena anvitaḥ)

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

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संख्यात-अन्वितेन: with uncountable (things) / not with countable (things)
• संख्यात-अन्वितेन: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्यात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; (पाठे ‘नसंख्यात-’ इति स्यात्)

• तुḥ: (particle)
• तुḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः; अत्र पाठदोष/सन्ध्यन्तरसम्भावना (likely part of ‘अन्वितेन तु’)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse praises annadāna and jaladāna as steady, life-sustaining charities and highlights public-benefit works (ponds, wells, gardens) as powerful sources of puṇya and dharmic merit.

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

It frames devotion as expressed through compassionate service—supporting living beings with food, water, and shared resources—an outward sign of an inward dharmic and devotional disposition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it is primarily dharma-śāstric in emphasis, focusing on dāna (charitable giving) and loka-kalyāṇa (public welfare) as practical religious conduct.