Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101
सर्वेषामपि दानानां विद्यादानं विशिष्यते । विद्यादानेन सायुज्यं विष्णोर्याति नृपोत्तम ॥ १०१ ॥
sarveṣāmapi dānānāṃ vidyādānaṃ viśiṣyate | vidyādānena sāyujyaṃ viṣṇoryāti nṛpottama || 101 ||
Parmi tous les dons, le don de la connaissance est le plus éminent. En accordant la connaissance, ô roi excellent, on atteint le sāyujya, l’union avec Viṣṇu.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada / addressing a kingly listener in the discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It elevates vidyā-dāna as the most transformative charity because it removes ignorance and directly supports dharma and liberation, culminating in sāyujya with Viṣṇu.
By linking knowledge-giving to attaining Viṣṇu, the verse presents true knowledge as devotion-supporting: it clarifies right worship, right conduct, and steady remembrance of the Lord.
The verse highlights the principle of transmitting śāstric understanding—teaching and preserving Vedic learning (supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa for correct meaning and expression) as a sacred act of dāna.