Shloka 30

Samayakaraṇa

Determination of Proper Times / Formalizing the Condition

Devanagari script

गीतदानमहं मन्ये सुराणामतिवल्लभम् । सर्वदानाधिकं भूप ह्यनंतगतिदायकम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

gītadānamahaṃ manye surāṇāmativallabham | sarvadānādhikaṃ bhūpa hyanaṃtagatidāyakam || 30 ||

Translation

गीतदानमहं मन्ये सुराणामतिवल्लभम् । सर्वदानाधिकं भूप ह्यनन्तगतिदायकम् ॥

Word by Word

• gīta-dānam: the gift of song (singing)
• gīta-dānam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (कृदन्त, √gai/गै ‘गायने’) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘गीतस्य दानम्’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• manye: consider / think
• manye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• surāṇām: of the gods
• surāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ati-vallabham: most dear
• ati-vallabham: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ‘अतिशयेन वल्लभम्’

• sarva-dāna-adhikam: superior to all gifts
• sarva-dāna-adhikam: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वेभ्यः दानेभ्यः अधिकम्’

• bhūpa: O king
• bhūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed (निश्चयार्थक)

• ananta-gati-dāyakam: granting endless attainment
• ananta-gati-dāyakam: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘अनन्तां गतिं ददाति इति’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to a king within the narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

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

It elevates gīta-dāna—supporting or offering sacred song/chanting—as a uniquely powerful charity, beloved to the devas and capable of granting ananta-gati, a limitless spiritual destination.

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

By praising sacred song as the सर्वोच्च दान (highest gift), it implies that kīrtana/stotra and the propagation of devotional sound are direct means to please divine beings and attain the highest end.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly values correct sacred recitation and musical offering—aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) and Chandas (meter)—since devotional song depends on disciplined sound and rhythmic structure.