Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

यो विप्रहितकृन्नित्यं स सर्वान्कृतवान्मखान् । स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु तप्तं तेनाखिलं तपः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

yo viprahitakṛnnityaṃ sa sarvānkṛtavānmakhān | sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu taptaṃ tenākhilaṃ tapaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Sesiapa yang sentiasa melaksanakan kewajipan yang diperintahkan oleh śāstra, sesungguhnya telah melakukan semua korban suci; dia seakan telah mandi di semua tīrtha, dan melalui dirinya segala bentuk tapa (tapas) telah disempurnakan.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• vipra-hita-kṛt: one who does good to brāhmaṇas
• vipra-hita-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; अर्थः ‘विप्राय हितं करोति’ (one who does good for a brāhmaṇa); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: always)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन

• kṛtavān: has performed
• kṛtavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्तवत् (Perfect active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; अर्थः—‘has done/performed’

• makhān: sacrifices
• makhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• snātaḥ: has bathed
• snātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; अर्थः—‘is bathed/has bathed’

• sarva-tīrtheṣu: in all sacred fords
• sarva-tīrtheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi tīrthāni); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative, 7th); बहुवचन

• taptam: has been practiced (austerity)
• taptam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; here predicative with tapaḥ understood

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया; एकवचन

• akhilam: entire
• akhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady performance of śāstra-enjoined duty (nitya-anuṣṭhāna) is spiritually comprehensive—equivalent in merit to yajñas, tīrtha-bathing, and tapas—because it aligns one’s life with dharma.

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

By valuing consistent, sincere obedience to sacred injunctions over mere external acts, it supports bhakti’s inner orientation: offerings, pilgrimage, and austerity become complete when performed with faithful adherence and dedication to the divine order upheld by Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to correct ritual and duty-performance grounded in Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra application—emphasizing proper, regular observance rather than sporadic display of pilgrimage or austerity.