Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

यद् दत्वा मोक्षमाप्नोति लिङ्गदानं तथा स्मृतम् । ब्रह्माण्डकोटिदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

yad datvā mokṣamāpnoti liṅgadānaṃ tathā smṛtam | brahmāṇḍakoṭidānena yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ || 103 ||

Translation

ಯಾವ ದಾನವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದರೆ ಮೋಕ್ಷ ದೊರಕುವುದೋ, ಅದನ್ನು ಲಿಂಗದಾನವೆಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತಿಗಳು ಹೇಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಅದು ಕೋಟಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಫಲಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಾನವಾದ ಪುಣ್ಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• यत्: which (thing)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लिङ्ग-दानम्: the gift of a liṅga
• लिङ्ग-दानम्: Karta/Pratipādya (कर्ता/प्रस्ताव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य दानम्)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'thus/so'

• स्मृतम्: is stated
• स्मृतम्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'इति स्मृतम्' = 'is said/remembered'

• ब्रह्माण्ड-कोटि-दानेन: by gifting crores of universes (hyperbole)
• ब्रह्माण्ड-कोटि-दानेन: Karana/Upamāna-hetu (करण/तुलनाहेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्माण्डानां कोटीनां दानम्)

• यत्-फलम्: whatever result
• यत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (यत् फलम् = 'that fruit/result which')

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Liṅga

FAQs

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

It elevates liṅga-dāna as an exceptionally potent act of dāna, declaring it capable of leading to moksha and equating its merit with unimaginably vast cosmic gifts.

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

By praising the gifting of a sacred emblem (liṅga) as moksha-giving, the verse frames devotional reverence expressed through ritual generosity as a direct spiritual means, not merely a social virtue.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the verse focuses on dāna-vidhi and dāna-phala—how a prescribed sacred gift, given with faith and right intent, is taught to yield specific spiritual results.