Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

ताम्रीभिस्तच्छतगुणं हेम्ना कोटिगुणं भवेत् । देवालयं तडागं वा ग्रामं वा पालयेत्तु यः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tāmrībhistacchataguṇaṃ hemnā koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet | devālayaṃ taḍāgaṃ vā grāmaṃ vā pālayettu yaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

తామ్రంతో చేస్తే పుణ్యం శతగుణం, స్వర్ణంతో చేస్తే కోటిగుణమగును. దేవాలయాన్ని గానీ, తడాగాన్ని (చెరువును) గానీ, గ్రామాన్ని గానీ రక్షించువాడు కూడా అటువంటి బహుగుణ ఫలాన్ని పొందును।

Word by Word

• ताम्रीभिः: with copper (materials)
• ताम्रीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• तत्: that (result)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; deictic ‘that (result)’

• शत-गुणम्: hundredfold
• शत-गुणम्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (numeral determinative: ‘hundredfold’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• हेम्ना: with gold
• हेम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कोटि-गुणम्: ten-million-fold (crore-fold)
• कोटि-गुणम्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘crore-fold’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देव-आलयम्: a temple
• देव-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘of a god’ → ‘temple’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तडागम्: a pond/tank
• तडागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• ग्रामम्: a village
• ग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• पालयेत्: should protect/maintain
• पालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that preserving sacred and public-supporting institutions—temples, water reservoirs, and village welfare—is a high Dharma whose spiritual fruit is greatly multiplied, especially when supported by valuable endowments.

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

By emphasizing devālaya-pālana (protecting and sustaining the Lord’s temple) as a form of seva, it frames devotion as practical service that supports worship, pilgrims, and the continuity of dharmic life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style ritual economy—how materials used in religious endowments affect prescribed merit—rather than a specific Vedanga like Vyākaraṇa; the practical takeaway is the rule of proportionality in dana/seva for public works.