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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

भूमिदानं विनिश्चित्य सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम् । दानेन योऽनुमंताति स एव कृतवान्पुरा ॥ ५६ ॥

bhūmidānaṃ viniścitya sarvadānottamottamam | dānena yo'numaṃtāti sa eva kṛtavānpurā || 56 ||

ഭൂമിദാനം സർവ്വദാനങ്ങളിലും പരമോത്തമമെന്ന് നിശ്ചയിച്ച്, ആ ദാനത്തിന് സമ്മതിച്ച് അനുഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവൻ, മുൻകാലത്ത് തന്നേ ആ ദാനം ചെയ്തവനായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

bhūmi-dānamgift of land
bhūmi-dānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
viniścityahaving determined
viniścitya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvi-ni-√ści (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having ascertained/decided’
sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamamthe very best among all gifts
sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhūmi-dānam
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense ‘best of the best among all gifts’
dānenaby (this) gift
dānena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun
anumanyateapproves/assents
anumanyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootanu-√man (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), emphasis
kṛtavānhas done (it)
kṛtavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormPast active participle (क्तवतु/क्तवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one who has done’
purāformerly/earlier
purā:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpurā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

It establishes bhūmi-dāna (land-gift) as the highest form of dāna and teaches that even approving righteous charity (anumati) shares in its puṇya, emphasizing communal support for Dharma.

By valuing selfless giving and even heartfelt endorsement of such giving, the verse supports the bhakti ethic of serving beings and sustaining sacred duties as offerings aligned with devotion and sattvic intent.

The verse reflects Dharma-śāstra style ritual-principles—especially the idea that intention and assent (anumati) affect karmic results—used in practical guidance for dāna-vidhi rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.