Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88
Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
खातो जले महाराज तोयं मासद्वयं स्थितम् । पीतं क्षुद्रैर्वनचरैः सत्त्वैस्तृष्णासमाकुलैः ॥ ८९ ॥
khāto jale mahārāja toyaṃ māsadvayaṃ sthitam | pītaṃ kṣudrairvanacaraiḥ sattvaistṛṣṇāsamākulaiḥ || 89 ||
Wahai raja agung, sebuah lopak telah digali; airnya kekal di situ selama dua bulan. Air itu diminum habis oleh makhluk-makhluk kecil penghuni rimba yang dihimpit dan diseksa oleh dahaga.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It highlights dharma expressed as compassion: even a simple act like making water available becomes a life-saving support for many beings and is treated as meritorious conduct.
By showing that devotion matures into kindness toward all creatures; serving life (jīva-sevā) is aligned with serving the Divine, a practical expression of sattvic bhakti.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this line; it instead emphasizes applied dharma—public welfare through providing water.