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 ||
Quem, conforme sua força e recursos, dá terra a um duas-vezes-nascido (brāhmaṇa) sem sustento—o mérito nascido dessa dádiva não sou capaz de narrar plenamente nem em centenas de anos.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dāna-dharma)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
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.