Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

तावुभौ विष्णुलोकं हि व्रजेतां भुक्तभोगकौ । तल्लिखित्वा च यो दद्यादाषाढ्यां घृतधेनुना ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tāvubhau viṣṇulokaṃ hi vrajetāṃ bhuktabhogakau | tallikhitvā ca yo dadyādāṣāḍhyāṃ ghṛtadhenunā || 22 ||

Translation

Sesungguhnya, kedua-duanya pergi ke alam Viṣṇu setelah menikmati ganjaran amal kebajikan. Dan sesiapa yang menyalin ajaran ini lalu menghadiahkannya pada bulan Āṣāḍha, bersama “ghṛta-dhenū” (lembu ghee), memperoleh pahala itu.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• विष्णु-लोकम्: Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ-अव्यय (particle: 'indeed/for')

• व्रजेताम्: (they) go
• व्रजेताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; 'let them go/they go'

• भुक्त-भोगकौ: having enjoyed pleasures
• भुक्त-भोगकौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्त (भुज् धातु → कृदन्त) + भोगक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (भुक्ताः भोगाः ययोः/भुक्तभोगौ)

• तत्: that (text)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) → लिखित्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having written'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 'should give'

• आषाढ्याम्: (a cow) in the month Āṣāḍha / an Āṣāḍhī (gift)
• आषाढ्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• घृत-धेनुना: with a ghee-cow (cow offered with ghee)
• घृत-धेनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (घृतेन युक्ता धेनुः/घृतधेनुः); करण (instrumental: 'with a ghee-cow')

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s teaching tradition; within the larger Narada–Sanatkumara instruction stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links dharma (meritorious action) with its फल (phala): the doers “go to Viṣṇuloka” after enjoying the earned rewards, and it further praises the transmission of sacred teaching by writing it and donating it as a dharmic gift—especially when accompanied by a prescribed dana (ghṛta-dhenū).

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

By naming Viṣṇuloka as the destination, the verse frames dana and preservation of sacred instruction as acts that support Viṣṇu-oriented devotion—service to dharma and dissemination of Viṣṇu-centered teaching become supportive limbs (aṅgas) of bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual timing and observance (kalā/ṛtu-māsa sensitivity) typical of dharma-śāstra practice: the month Āṣāḍha is specified for the donation, indicating the importance of calendrical discipline (often aligned with Jyotiṣa-based religious timing).