Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
प्रणदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । वदन्तीति महाप्राज्ञाः प्राणदानं कुरुष्व मे ॥ ६१ ॥
praṇadānātparaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati | vadantīti mahāprājñāḥ prāṇadānaṃ kuruṣva me || 61 ||
మహాప్రాజ్ఞులు ఇలా చెబుతారు—ప్రాణరక్షణ దానంకన్నా గొప్ప దానం ఎప్పుడూ లేదు, ఇక ఉండదు. కాబట్టి నాకు ప్రాణదానం చేయండి; నన్ను రక్షించండి।
Unspecified petitioner (a speaker within the narrative addressing the listener directly)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates prāṇadāna—protecting or saving a life—as the greatest form of dāna, teaching that compassion and preservation of life generate the highest dharmic merit.
By prioritizing mercy and protection of living beings, it aligns conduct with sattva and devotion-friendly virtues, implying that true bhakti expresses itself through compassion and safeguarding life.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the verse is primarily a dharma-ethical rule about dāna, emphasizing life-protection over material gifting.