Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

धर्मालयं विमानेन याति भोगान्वितेन वै । अनडुद्दो मुनिश्रेष्ट यानारुढः प्रयाति वै ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dharmālayaṃ vimānena yāti bhogānvitena vai | anaḍuddo muniśreṣṭa yānāruḍhaḥ prayāti vai || 23 ||

Translation

Воистину, дарующий быка отправляется в обитель Дхармы на вимане, исполненной наслаждений. О лучший из мудрецов, взойдя на колесницу, он действительно уходит.

Word by Word

• धर्म-आलयम्: to the abode of dharma
• धर्म-आलयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य आलयः)

• विमानेन: by an aerial car
• विमानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• भोग-अन्वितेन: with enjoyment (endowed with pleasures)
• भोग-अन्वितेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; अनु-√इ धातु/अन्वि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘अन्वित’; तत्पुरुषः (भोगैः अन्वितेन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अनडुद्दः: the giver of a bull/ox (implied)
• अनडुद्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनडुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनडुद्’ (बलीवर्द/वृषभः)

• मुनिश्रेष्ट: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ट: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिश्रेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + श्रेष्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुनिषु श्रेष्ठः)

• यान-आरुढः: mounted on a vehicle
• यान-आरुढः: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढ (कृदन्त; आ√रुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आरूढ’; तत्पुरुषः (याने आरूढः)

• प्रयाति: proceeds/goes forth
• प्रयाति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√या (धातु; या)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-phala context)

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 states that charity aligned with dharma—specifically anaḍut-dāna (donation of a bull)—yields a refined post-death passage: the soul is conveyed in a vimāna and attains dharmālaya, symbolizing a righteous, protected destination shaped by punya (merit).

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

While the verse directly praises dāna as karma-phala, it supports the broader Purāṇic bhakti framework: righteous giving done with faith and reverence purifies intention, strengthens sattva, and becomes an offering that complements Vishnu-bhakti-oriented living even when the immediate result is described as bhoga and heavenly transit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: the verse reflects dāna-vidhi thinking—specific gifts produce specific results—showing the practical dharma-śāstra style mapping of actions (dāna) to outcomes (vimāna, bhoga, dharmālaya).