Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25
Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
मनुष्या यदि विप्राग्थ्र न परार्थास्तदा मृताः । परकार्यं न ये मर्त्याः कायेनापि धनेन वा ॥ २६ ॥
manuṣyā yadi viprāgthra na parārthāstadā mṛtāḥ | parakāryaṃ na ye martyāḥ kāyenāpi dhanena vā || 26 ||
Ô meilleur des brāhmaṇas, si les hommes ne vivent pas pour le bien d’autrui, ils sont comme morts. Les mortels qui ne servent pas la cause d’un autre—par l’effort du corps ou par leurs biens—ne vivent pas en vérité.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It defines meaningful life as paropakāra—actively supporting others’ welfare—teaching that a self-centered life is spiritually equivalent to lifelessness.
Bhakti is not only worship but also compassionate action; serving beings through effort or charity is treated as a lived expression of devotion and dharmic conduct.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it emphasizes applied dharma—service (kāya-sevā) and giving (dāna) as practical disciplines.