Shloka 61

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सहस्रगुणितं तत्तु विज्ञेयं ग्रामदायिनः । सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशे विमाने वैष्णवे पुरे ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

sahasraguṇitaṃ tattu vijñeyaṃ grāmadāyinaḥ | sūryakoṭipratīkāśe vimāne vaiṣṇave pure || 61 ||

Translation

ஆனால் கிராமதானம் செய்பவனுக்கு அந்தப் புண்ணியம் ஆயிரமடங்கு பெருகும் என்று அறிய வேண்டும்; கோடி சூரியர் போன்ற ஒளியுடைய விமானத்தில் அவன் வைஷ்ணவப் புரியை அடைகிறான்.

Word by Word

• सहस्र-गुणितम्: multiplied a thousandfold
• सहस्र-गुणितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम् / Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + गुणित (प्रातिपदिक; √गुण्/गण्? here ‘multiplied’ from गुणित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative adjective

• तत्: that (merit/result)
• तत्: Pradhāna-artha (प्रधानार्थः / Referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative ‘that’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण / Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुवादार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया / Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त; भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य/विधिलिङ्गार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is to be known’

• ग्राम-दायिनः: of the village-donor
• ग्राम-दायिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम + दायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular; ‘of the giver of a village’

• सूर्य-कोटि-प्रतीकाशे: in (a) sun-crore-like radiant
• सूर्य-कोटि-प्रतीकाशे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम् / Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + कोटि + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; qualifying विमाने

• विमाने: in an aerial car/palace
• विमाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम् / Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• वैष्णवे: in Viṣṇu’s (realm)
• वैष्णवे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम् / Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; qualifying पुरे

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम् / Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates grāma-dāna (donating a village/settlement or its revenues) as an exceptionally potent act of dāna, teaching that such charity yields exponentially increased puṇya and culminates in a Vishnu-aligned heavenly attainment (Vaiṣṇava-pura).

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

By describing the destination as “Vaiṣṇava-pura,” the verse frames charitable dharma as a Vishnu-centered act whose fruit is proximity to the Lord’s realm—linking righteous giving with Vaiṣṇava orientation and devotional destiny.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the verse primarily conveys dharma-śāstric valuation of dāna (charitable acts) and its phala (result), using traditional cosmological imagery of vimāna and loka.