Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे क्रीडन्याति वृषालयम् । हयदो यानदश्चापि गजदश्च द्विजोत्तम ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇe krīḍanyāti vṛṣālayam | hayado yānadaścāpi gajadaśca dvijottama || 22 ||

Translation

Na arena de recreio, repleta de grupos de Apsarās, ele vai à morada do Touro (Śiva). Ó melhor dos duas-vezes-nascidos, quem doa cavalos, quem doa veículos e quem doa elefantes também alcança tal fruto.

Word by Word

• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णे: in (a place) filled with hosts of apsarases
• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + संकीर्ण (कृदन्त; सम्-√कॄ/कीर् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘संकीर्ण’; तत्पुरुषः (अप्सरोगणेन संकीर्णे)

• क्रीडन्: sporting
• क्रीडन्: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Active present participle) ‘playing/sporting’

• याति: goes
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वृष-आलयम्: to the abode of the bull (Śiva’s realm)
• वृष-आलयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य आलयः)

• हयदः: the giver of a horse
• हयदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयद (प्रातिपदिक; हय + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हयं ददाति इति)

• यानदः: the giver of a vehicle
• यानदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यानद (प्रातिपदिक; यान + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (यानं ददाति इति)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• गजदः: the giver of an elephant
• गजदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजद (प्रातिपदिक; गज + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गजं ददाति इति)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (द्विजेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights dāna (charitable gifting) as a dharmic act that yields specific posthumous fruits—celestial enjoyment and attainment of an exalted realm associated here with Vṛṣa’s abode (Śiva-loka).

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

While framed as dāna-phala, the verse implicitly supports bhakti by directing merit toward a divine realm (Śiva’s abode), showing that righteous acts and reverence for the deity can shape one’s spiritual destination.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Dharmaśāstra-style phala-śruti logic (results of acts) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it teaches the ritual-ethical principle that prescribed gifts (dāna) have defined karmic outcomes.