Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

आश्रमं कारयेद्यस्तु बहुजन्तूपकारकम् । स याति ब्रह्मभुवनं कुलत्रयसमन्वितः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

āśramaṃ kārayedyastu bahujantūpakārakam | sa yāti brahmabhuvanaṃ kulatrayasamanvitaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Тот, кто устроит ашрам (приют/обитель) на благо многих живых существ, достигает мира Брахмы, сопровождаемый заслугой, возвышающей три поколения его рода.

Word by Word

• आश्रमम्: a hermitage/āśrama
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कारयेत्: should cause to be built/made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/optative-like injunctive usage), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) ‘कारयति/कारयेत्’ = ‘cause to be made’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधकः

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• बहुजन्तु-उपकारकम्: beneficial to many beings
• बहुजन्तु-उपकारकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + जन्तु + उपकारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बहूनां जन्तूनाम् उपकारकम्) विशेषणम् (आश्रमम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मभुवनम्: Brahmā’s world
• ब्रह्मभुवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः भुवनम्)

• कुलत्रय-समन्वितः: accompanied by three generations (of his lineage)
• कुलत्रय-समन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + त्रय + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (कुलत्रयेण समन्वितः/कुलत्रयसम्बद्धः) विशेषणम् (सः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-upadesha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharmic public welfare—creating a place of refuge that helps many beings—becomes a powerful source of puṇya that can lead to higher heavenly attainment, specifically Brahmaloka.

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

While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it supports bhakti in practice by emphasizing compassionate service (dayā and loka-hita) as a dharmic expression of devotion, where care for beings is treated as spiritually elevating.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied dharma rather than a specific Vedāṅga: the practical principle of loka-saṅgraha (public benefit) guiding righteous works such as establishing shelters/āśramas as a meritorious act.