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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

वाचकं पूजयेद्भक्त्या धनरत्नांशुकादिभिः । भूमिदानैर्गवां दानै रत्नदानैश्च संततम् ॥ ३८ ॥

vācakaṃ pūjayedbhaktyā dhanaratnāṃśukādibhiḥ | bhūmidānairgavāṃ dānai ratnadānaiśca saṃtatam || 38 ||

Dengan bhakti, hendaklah seseorang memuliakan pembaca/penyampai dengan harta, permata, pakaian dan seumpamanya; serta sentiasa juga dengan derma tanah, derma lembu, dan derma batu permata yang berharga.

vācakamthe reciter/expounder
vācakam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvācaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन
pūjayetshould worship/honor
pūjayet:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpūj (धातु)
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), प्रथम-पुरुष? actually मध्यम-पुरुष implied; परस्मैपद, एकवचन; causative? no
bhaktyāwith devotion
bhaktyā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन
dhana-ratna-aṃśuka-ādibhiḥwith wealth, jewels, garments, etc.
dhana-ratna-aṃśuka-ādibhiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdhana (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśuka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार/आदि-समास), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘…आदि’ = etc.
bhūmi-dānaiḥwith gifts of land
bhūmi-dānaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन
gavāmof cows
gavām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootgo (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्द), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन
dānaiḥwith gifts
dānaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन
ratna-dānaiḥwith gifts of jewels
ratna-dānaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootratna (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
saṃtatamconstantly
saṃtatam:
Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsaṃtata (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, instructing the proper conduct for Purana recitation and its rewards)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It teaches that honoring the vācaka (the one who transmits sacred Purāṇic knowledge) is itself a devotional act, where generosity (dāna) becomes a concrete expression of reverence for dharma and śāstra.

Bhakti here is not only inner faith but also outward seva—supporting the reciter with sincere offerings like cloth, wealth, and prescribed gifts, thereby sustaining the transmission of sacred narration.

The verse mainly highlights ritual practice (dāna-vidhi and satkāra of the vācaka) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it reflects applied dharma—how a listener should conduct themselves during Purāṇa-pāṭha.