Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
एषा गौः परलोकस्थं तारयिष्यतिमामिति । यो दत्त्वा म्रियते जंतुः सा गौः कं तारयिष्यति ॥ ११ ॥
eṣā gauḥ paralokasthaṃ tārayiṣyatimāmiti | yo dattvā mriyate jaṃtuḥ sā gauḥ kaṃ tārayiṣyati || 11 ||
ผู้ใดคิดว่า “โคนี้จักช่วยข้ามพ้นในปรโลก” แล้วถวายโคและตายทันที—โคนั้นเล่าจะช่วยข้ามพ้นผู้ใด?
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
FAQs
It cautions that charity done with a transactional hope—“this gift will save me later”—is misguided; liberation is not secured by mere external giving, but by right understanding and inner transformation.
By undermining merit-bargaining, it indirectly points toward sincere surrender and devotion as the true refuge—rather than relying on a single ritual act as a guaranteed “rescuer” after death.
Ritual practice (kalpa) is implied: dāna must be performed with proper intention and dharmic context; the verse stresses that correct ‘prayojana’ (purpose) matters as much as the act itself.