Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे क्रीडन्याति वृषालयम् । हयदो यानदश्चापि गजदश्च द्विजोत्तम ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇe krīḍanyāti vṛṣālayam | hayado yānadaścāpi gajadaśca dvijottama || 22 ||

Translation

Di gelanggang permainan yang dipenuhi rombongan Apsarā, ia mencapai Vṛṣālaya (kediaman Sang Pemilik Panji Banteng, Śiva). Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dvija, pemberi kuda, pemberi kendaraan, dan pemberi gajah pun memperoleh hasil yang sama.

Word by Word

• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णे: in (a place) filled with hosts of apsarases
• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + संकीर्ण (कृदन्त; सम्-√कॄ/कीर् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘संकीर्ण’; तत्पुरुषः (अप्सरोगणेन संकीर्णे)

• क्रीडन्: sporting
• क्रीडन्: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Active present participle) ‘playing/sporting’

• याति: goes
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वृष-आलयम्: to the abode of the bull (Śiva’s realm)
• वृष-आलयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य आलयः)

• हयदः: the giver of a horse
• हयदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयद (प्रातिपदिक; हय + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हयं ददाति इति)

• यानदः: the giver of a vehicle
• यानदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यानद (प्रातिपदिक; यान + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (यानं ददाति इति)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• गजदः: the giver of an elephant
• गजदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजद (प्रातिपदिक; गज + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गजं ददाति इति)

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

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (द्विजेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights dāna (charitable gifting) as a dharmic act that yields specific posthumous fruits—celestial enjoyment and attainment of an exalted realm associated here with Vṛṣa’s abode (Śiva-loka).

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

While framed as dāna-phala, the verse implicitly supports bhakti by directing merit toward a divine realm (Śiva’s abode), showing that righteous acts and reverence for the deity can shape one’s spiritual destination.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Dharmaśāstra-style phala-śruti logic (results of acts) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it teaches the ritual-ethical principle that prescribed gifts (dāna) have defined karmic outcomes.