Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 100
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
विद्यादानं महीदानं गोदानं चोत्तमोत्तमम् । नरकादुद्धरन्त्येव जपवाहनदोहनात् ॥ १०० ॥
vidyādānaṃ mahīdānaṃ godānaṃ cottamottamam | narakāduddharantyeva japavāhanadohanāt || 100 ||
A dádiva do conhecimento, a dádiva da terra e—suprema entre as supremas—a dádiva de uma vaca: estas de fato erguem o doador para fora do inferno, pelo uso (da vaca) em yajña e adoração, como meio de transporte e pela ordenha do seu leite.
Narada (teaching in a dharma discourse context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
FAQs
It ranks major gifts (dāna)—especially go-dāna—as powerful dharmic acts that generate puṇya strong enough to counter naraka-phala (hellish consequences) and elevate the donor spiritually.
By linking go-dāna to japa and worship, it frames charity as supportive of devotional practice—sustaining rituals and sacred living that nourish bhakti-oriented dharma.
Ritual application is implied (kalpa/vaidika-kriyā): the cow supports yajña-related life through worship context (japa) and daily sacred economy (milk), showing how dharma is practiced through prescribed acts.