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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

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

द्विजाय वृत्तिहीनाय यः प्रदद्यान्महीं बले । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं न क्षमोऽब्दशतैरहम् ॥ २८ ॥

dvijāya vṛttihīnāya yaḥ pradadyānmahīṃ bale | tasya puṇyaphalaṃ vaktuṃ na kṣamo'bdaśatairaham || 28 ||

Sesiapa yang, dengan kekuatan dan kemampuan yang wajar, mengurniakan tanah kepada seorang dwija (brahmana) yang tiada mata pencarian—pahala daripada sedekah itu tidak mampu aku ungkapkan sepenuhnya walau dalam ratusan tahun.

द्विजायto a twice-born (brahmin)
द्विजाय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन
वृत्तिहीनायdeprived of livelihood
वृत्तिहीनाय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootवृत्ति + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—वृत्त्या हीनः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम
प्रदद्यात्should give
प्रदद्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + दा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should give’
महीम्land
महीम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootमही (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
बलेin (his) strength / while able
बले:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘बले’ = ‘in strength/at the time of strength’ (idiomatic)
तस्यof him
तस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
पुण्यफलम्the fruit of merit
पुण्यफलम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्य + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—पुण्यस्य फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
वक्तुम्to describe
वक्तुम्:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); धातुः—वच् (वचने); ‘to speak/tell’
not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
क्षमःcapable
क्षमः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण
अब्दशतैःeven with hundreds of years
अब्दशतैः:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootअब्द + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—अब्दानां शतम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dāna-dharma)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

D
Dvija (Brahmana)

FAQs

It elevates bhū-dāna (gifting land) as an exceptionally powerful act of dāna, especially when directed to a worthy dvija who lacks livelihood, declaring its merit to be practically immeasurable.

By emphasizing selfless support of the righteous and needy, it frames charity as a dharmic expression that purifies the heart—an essential support for steady devotion, even when the verse itself speaks primarily in terms of puṇya.

It applies dharma-śāstric discernment in dāna: choosing a qualified recipient (vṛttihīna dvija) and giving according to capacity (bale), reflecting the practical rule-based reasoning used in Vedic ritual ethics rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.