Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54
Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
एकश्चेदध्वगो राजंस्तडागस्य जलं पिबेत् । कत्कर्तुः सर्वपापानि नश्यन्त्येव न संशयः ॥ ५५ ॥
ekaścedadhvago rājaṃstaḍāgasya jalaṃ pibet | katkartuḥ sarvapāpāni naśyantyeva na saṃśayaḥ || 55 ||
அரசே, ஒரே ஒரு பயணியும் குளத்தின் நீரைப் பருகினால், அந்தக் குளத்தை அமைத்தவனுடைய எல்லாப் பாவங்களும் நிச்சயமாக அழிகின்றன—இதில் ஐயமில்லை।
Narada (teaching a king within the dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It elevates public welfare (making water available to travelers) as a powerful dharmic act whose merit functions as expiation (prāyaścitta), destroying the donor’s sins through the benefit given to others.
While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti here, it reflects bhakti’s ethic of selfless service (paropakāra): supporting living beings with essentials like water is treated as spiritually purifying and merit-generating.
It primarily teaches Dharma and dāna rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is the ritual-ethical principle that lasting public utilities (like ponds) are superior forms of charity due to continuous benefit.