Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa
तल्लिखित्वा तु यो दद्यात्सुवर्णकलमान्वितम् । तिलधेनु युतं चापि मार्गशीर्ष्यां विधानतः ॥ २३ ॥
tallikhitvā tu yo dadyātsuvarṇakalamānvitam | tiladhenu yutaṃ cāpi mārgaśīrṣyāṃ vidhānataḥ || 23 ||
ഇത് എഴുതിപ്പിച്ച് സ്വർണ്ണകലമോടുകൂടി ദാനം ചെയ്യുകയും, മാർഗശീർഷ മാസത്തിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം തിലധേനുവും അർപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ—(പുണ്യഫലം പ്രാപിക്കും)।
Narada (in a teaching dialogue, traditionally to Sanatkumara and the Kumaras)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates dāna-dharma by linking learning and scripture-preservation with ritual charity: commissioning a text to be written and donating it—together with auspicious adjunct gifts—becomes a highly meritorious act when performed in the proper month and according to vidhi.
While primarily about charity, the verse supports bhakti indirectly by promoting the dissemination of sacred teachings; enabling others to access dharma-texts is treated as service (sevā) that nourishes devotion through study, recitation, and right practice.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (sacred calendrics) are implied: the donation is tied to a specific month (Mārgaśīrṣa) and must be done vidhānataḥ, i.e., following prescribed ritual rules and timing.