Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

मनुष्या यदि विप्राग्थ्र न परार्थास्तदा मृताः । परकार्यं न ये मर्त्याः कायेनापि धनेन वा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

manuṣyā yadi viprāgthra na parārthāstadā mṛtāḥ | parakāryaṃ na ye martyāḥ kāyenāpi dhanena vā || 26 ||

Translation

О лучший из брахманов! Если люди не живут ради блага других, то они словно мертвы. Те смертные, кто не служит делу другого — ни телесным трудом, ни богатством, — поистине не живут.

Word by Word

• मनुष्याः: people/humans
• मनुष्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional: if)

• विप्राग्र्य: O best of Brahmins
• विप्राग्र्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: विप्रेषु अग्र्यः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• परार्थाः: for others' sake
• परार्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: परस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परकार्यं: others' work/service
• परकार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: परस्य कार्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धबोधक-यत् (relative pronoun: who)

• मर्त्याः: mortals
• मर्त्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कायेन: by the body
• कायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• धनेन: by wealth
• धनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It defines meaningful life as paropakāra—actively supporting others’ welfare—teaching that a self-centered life is spiritually equivalent to lifelessness.

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

Bhakti is not only worship but also compassionate action; serving beings through effort or charity is treated as a lived expression of devotion and dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it emphasizes applied dharma—service (kāya-sevā) and giving (dāna) as practical disciplines.