Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
अपहृत्य पस्स्यार्थं यः परेभ्यः प्रयच्छति । अपहर्त्ता तु निरयी यस्यार्थस्तस्य तत्फलम् ॥ १२३ ॥
apahṛtya passyārthaṃ yaḥ parebhyaḥ prayacchati | apaharttā tu nirayī yasyārthastasya tatphalam || 123 ||
Quiconque s'empare du bien d'autrui pour le donner ensuite à d'autres est véritablement un voleur. Ce voleur tombe en enfer, tandis que le fruit (le mérite) de cette richesse appartient de droit à celui à qui elle a été prise.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes that merit depends on dharma (rightful conduct): charity made from stolen wealth does not purify the thief; the sin remains with the taker, while the rightful karmic fruit of that wealth belongs to its true owner.
It implies that offerings, dāna, and service connected to devotion must be supported by purity and non-injury (ahiṁsā) in livelihood; bhakti is strengthened by honest means, not by displaying piety through misappropriated gifts.
It reflects dharma-śāstric reasoning used in ritual life: eligibility for dāna and worship depends on śuddhi (purity) of means—an applied principle relevant to kalpa (ritual discipline) rather than a technical rule of grammar or astrology.