Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

पाककर्तुः परस्यार्थे कवये गदहारिणे । अभक्ष्य भक्षकस्यापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

pākakartuḥ parasyārthe kavaye gadahāriṇe | abhakṣya bhakṣakasyāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 11 ||

Translation

他人のために料理して生計を立てる者、雇われの詩人、棍棒を携える乱暴者、あるいは禁じられたものを食する者に施すなら、その布施は無果となる。

Word by Word

• पाक-कर्तुः: of a cook
• पाक-कर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाकस्य कर्ता)

• परस्य: of another
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अर्थे इति)

• अर्थे: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• कवये: to a poet
• कवये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्प्रदानम्

• गद-हारिणे: to one who carries a mace
• गद-हारिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गदायाः हारी)

• अभक्ष्य: forbidden (to eat)
• अभक्ष्य: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (contextual), एकवचन; ‘अभक्ष्य-भक्षकस्य’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• भक्षकस्य: of an eater/consumer
• भक्षकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• दत्तम्: a gift; what is given
• दत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दानम्’ अर्थे

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: Karta-pradhana Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दत्तम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches dāna-śuddhi: charity bears spiritual merit only when offered to a worthy recipient with righteous conduct; giving to unethical or impure recipients becomes niṣphala (fruitless).

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

Bhakti is expressed through sattvic living—offerings and gifts aligned with dharma. A devotee’s giving should support virtue and purity, not flattery, violence, or forbidden habits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstric application (often supported by Kalpa: rules of conduct and ritual propriety): selecting qualified recipients and avoiding gifts that violate purity norms.