Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 100

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

विद्यादानं महीदानं गोदानं चोत्तमोत्तमम् । नरकादुद्धरन्त्येव जपवाहनदोहनात् ॥ १०० ॥

Transliteration

vidyādānaṃ mahīdānaṃ godānaṃ cottamottamam | narakāduddharantyeva japavāhanadohanāt || 100 ||

Translation

Le don du savoir, le don de la terre et—suprême entre les suprêmes—le don d’une vache : ceux-ci arrachent véritablement de l’enfer, par l’usage (de la vache) dans le yajña et le culte, comme monture, et par la traite de son lait.

Word by Word

• विद्यादानम्: gift of knowledge
• विद्यादानम्: कर्म/उद्देश्य (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः = विद्यायाः दानम्

• महीदानम्: gift of land
• महीदानम्: कर्म/उद्देश्य (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः = मह्याः दानम् (gift of land)

• गोदानम्: gift of a cow
• गोदानम्: कर्म/उद्देश्य (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः = गोः दानम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्तम-उत्तमम्: the very best
• उत्तम-उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासवत् प्रयोग (superlative emphasis: 'best of the best')

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative: from)

• उद्धरन्ति: they deliver/rescue
• उद्धरन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः उद्-; अर्थः ‘उद्धरति’ (deliver)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जप: recitation (japa)
• जप: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (stem) समासाङ्ग

• वाहन: vehicle
• वाहन: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (stem) समासाङ्ग

• दोहन्: milking/drawing out
• दोहन्: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगभेद), प्रातिपदिक (stem) समासाङ्ग; अर्थः ‘milking/drawing out’

• आत्: from/by reason of
• आत्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त-प्रत्ययवत्)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय (ablatival ending-like usage)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma discourse context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

FAQs

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

It ranks major gifts (dāna)—especially go-dāna—as powerful dharmic acts that generate puṇya strong enough to counter naraka-phala (hellish consequences) and elevate the donor spiritually.

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

By linking go-dāna to japa and worship, it frames charity as supportive of devotional practice—sustaining rituals and sacred living that nourish bhakti-oriented dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is implied (kalpa/vaidika-kriyā): the cow supports yajña-related life through worship context (japa) and daily sacred economy (milk), showing how dharma is practiced through prescribed acts.