Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

यद्यदिष्टतमं वस्तु तत्तद्विप्राय दापयेत् । स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ vastu tattadviprāya dāpayet | sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṃ punarāvṛttidurlabham || 69 ||

Translation

Quel que soit l’objet que l’on aime le plus, qu’on le fasse donner à un brāhmane savant; ainsi l’on parvient à Viṣṇu-bhavana, la demeure de Viṣṇu, un état d’où le retour à la renaissance mondaine est difficile.

Word by Word

• यत्-यत्-इष्टतमम्: whatever is most desired
• यत्-यत्-इष्टतमम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + इष्टतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘यत्-यत्’ = whatever; विशेषण

• वस्तु: thing/object
• वस्तु: कर्म (दत्तव्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्-तत्-विप्राय: to that Brahmin
• तत्-तत्-विप्राय: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘तत्-तत्’ = to that (Brahmin)

• दापयेत्: should cause (it) to be given / should give
• दापयेत्: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः = ‘cause to give / have given’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णु-भवनम्: Vishnu’s abode
• विष्णु-भवनम्: कर्म (गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः भवनम्)

• पुनर्-आवृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: hard to return from (where return is difficult)
• पुनर्-आवृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: कर्म-विशेषण (विष्णुभवनम्-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनर् (अव्यय) + आवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण; ‘पुनरावृत्ति’ = पुनः आगमनम् (return)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest form of dāna is giving up what one values most; such self-transcending charity purifies attachment and becomes a direct cause for attaining Viṣṇu’s abode, where rebirth is no longer the normal course.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as surrender: offering what is most cherished to a worthy recipient (vipra) as an act dedicated to Viṣṇu. The inner mood is relinquishing possessiveness and aligning one’s love with the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly reflects Dharma-śāstra style guidance on dāna (right giving) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; practically, it emphasizes proper recipient selection (vipra) and intention, which are key ritual principles in Vedic practice.