Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामपि दानानां विद्यादानं विशिष्यते । विद्यादानेन सायुज्यं विष्णोर्याति नृपोत्तम ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣāmapi dānānāṃ vidyādānaṃ viśiṣyate | vidyādānena sāyujyaṃ viṣṇoryāti nṛpottama || 101 ||

Translation

ในบรรดาทานทั้งปวง ทานแห่งวิชชาเป็นเลิศที่สุด ข้าแต่มหาราชผู้ประเสริฐ ผู้ให้วิชชาย่อมได้สายุชยะกับพระวิษณุ।

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• दानानाम्: of gifts/charities
• दानानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• विद्यादानम्: the gift of knowledge
• विद्यादानम्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject/topic); समासः = विद्यायाः दानम्

• विशिष्यते: excels/is superior
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः ‘excels/is distinguished’

• विद्यादानेन: by the gift of knowledge
• विद्यादानेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental); समासः = विद्यायाः दानम्

• सायुज्यम्: union/identity
• सायुज्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object attained)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन; समासः = उत्तमः नृपः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada / addressing a kingly listener in the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates vidyā-dāna as the most transformative charity because it removes ignorance and directly supports dharma and liberation, culminating in sāyujya with Viṣṇu.

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

By linking knowledge-giving to attaining Viṣṇu, the verse presents true knowledge as devotion-supporting: it clarifies right worship, right conduct, and steady remembrance of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the principle of transmitting śāstric understanding—teaching and preserving Vedic learning (supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa for correct meaning and expression) as a sacred act of dāna.