Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

सुधापानं प्रकुर्वंतो यांति वै धर्ममंदिरम् । शाकदाः पायसं भुंजंन्दीपदो ज्वलयन्दिशः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

sudhāpānaṃ prakurvaṃto yāṃti vai dharmamaṃdiram | śākadāḥ pāyasaṃ bhuṃjaṃndīpado jvalayandiśaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Os que oferecem uma bebida semelhante ao néctar vão, de fato, à mansão do Dharma. Os que dão legumes desfrutam do doce arroz com leite (pāyasa), e os que dão lamparinas fazem as direções resplandecerem.

Word by Word

• सुधा-पानम्: drinking of nectar
• सुधा-पानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वन्तः: performing
• प्रकुर्वन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• धर्म-मन्दिरम्: the abode of Dharma
• धर्म-मन्दिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शाक-दाः: givers of vegetables/greens
• शाक-दाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (धातु) → द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पायसम्: rice-pudding
• पायसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भुञ्जन्: eating/enjoying
• भुञ्जन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (पाठानुसार); विशेषण

• दीप-दः: givers of lamps
• दीप-दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (धातु) → द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्वलयन्: causing to blaze/lighting
• ज्वलयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → ज्वलय् + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (causative present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (पाठानुसार); विशेषण

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

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

It teaches the Narada Purana principle that specific dānas generate corresponding puṇya-fruits: nourishing gifts uplift the giver to dharmic realms, food-gifts return as abundance, and lamp-gifts symbolize spreading light and clarity across one’s destiny.

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

By framing daily offerings (drink, food, lamps) as sacred acts, it supports bhakti as practical worship—serving living beings and sustaining sacred light—so devotion becomes embodied through dāna rather than remaining only verbal praise.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: dīpa-dāna and anna-dāna are standard dharmic observances with prescribed intent and timing, emphasizing correct performance of meritorious acts rather than grammatical or astrological theory.