Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

गानेन जीविका यस्य यस्य भार्या च पुश्चली । परोपतापिनश्चापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

gānena jīvikā yasya yasya bhāryā ca puścalī | paropatāpinaścāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 9 ||

Translation

ज्याची उपजीविका केवळ गाण्यावर चालते, ज्याची पत्नी व्यभिचारिणी आहे आणि जो इतरांना पीडा देतो— अशाला दिलेले दान निष्फळ ठरते।

Word by Word

• gānena: by singing
• gānena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• jīvikā: livelihood
• jīvikā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• puścalī: unchaste/harlot
• puścalī: Kartri-visheshana (Subject Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṃścalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paropatāpinaḥ: of one tormenting others
• paropatāpinaḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paropatāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• dattam: given (charity)
• dattam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Kartri-visheshana (Subject Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on Dana–Dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) is not judged only by the amount given, but also by the moral and spiritual fitness of the recipient; giving to those who harm others or live in adharma yields no lasting puṇya.

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

Bhakti is inseparable from purity of conduct and compassion; supporting persons who live by causing others distress contradicts devotion’s core virtues (dayā, ahiṃsā), so such giving does not support dharmic Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily highlights Dharma-shāstra style discernment (recipient-eligibility in dāna), rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is to apply ethical evaluation before performing ritualized charity.