Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
नित्यं याच्ञापरस्यापि हिंसकस्य खलस्य च । रसविक्रयिणश्वैव दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ७ ॥ नामैका द । वेदविक्रयिणश्चापि स्मृतिविक्रयिणस्तथा । धर्मविक्रयिणो विप्र दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ८ ॥
nityaṃ yācñāparasyāpi hiṃsakasya khalasya ca | rasavikrayiṇaśvaiva dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 7 || nāmaikā da | vedavikrayiṇaścāpi smṛtivikrayiṇastathā | dharmavikrayiṇo vipra dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 8 ||
Le don devient sans fruit lorsqu’il est offert à celui qui mendie sans cesse, au violent, au méchant, ou à celui qui vend des objets de jouissance et de plaisir.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dana-dharma, worthy recipients)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)
FAQs
It teaches that the spiritual fruit of dāna depends not only on giving but also on discernment—giving to ethically corrupt recipients can nullify merit.
Bhakti is supported by sattvic conduct; offering resources in ways that sustain violence, greed, or unethical livelihood contradicts devotional purity and weakens spiritual progress.
This is primarily smārta-dharma (conduct and charity ethics) rather than a Vedāṅga technical topic; it functions as practical guidance for ritualized giving (dāna) and its eligibility rules.