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 ||
یہ سوچ کر کہ “یہ گائے پرلوک میں مجھے پار لگا دے گی”، جو شخص اسے دان کر کے فوراً مر جائے—تو وہ گائے پھر کس کو پار لگائے گی؟
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.