Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
सक्ताय देवपूजासु वृत्तिहीनाय दैत्यप । स्वल्पामपि महीं दद्याद्यः स विष्णुर्न संशयः ॥ २९ ॥
saktāya devapūjāsu vṛttihīnāya daityapa | svalpāmapi mahīṃ dadyādyaḥ sa viṣṇurna saṃśayaḥ || 29 ||
Ô seigneur des Daityas ! Celui qui donne ne fût-ce qu’un peu de terre à un homme voué au culte des dieux mais privé de subsistance, celui-là est Viṣṇu Lui-même, sans aucun doute.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It declares that sustaining sacred worship through land-gift (bhū-dāna), even in a small measure, is so meritorious that the giver is praised as embodying Viṣṇu—because they uphold dharma and enable continuous devapūjā.
Bhakti is shown as practical support for worship: honoring and empowering those devoted to divine service. By providing livelihood to a devapūjaka, the donor participates in the devotion-centered ecosystem and is identified with Viṣṇu’s grace.
Ritual application (Kalpa) is implied: charity is not random but targeted to sustain ongoing worship and prescribed rites; the verse emphasizes dharmic criteria for giving—supporting qualified worshippers who lack means.