Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

यत्र दानादिकानां तु लक्षणं परिकीर्तितम् । गङ्गामाहात्म्यसहितं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

yatra dānādikānāṃ tu lakṣaṇaṃ parikīrtitam | gaṅgāmāhātmyasahitaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 28 ||

Translation

جہاں دان وغیرہ کے دھرم کرموں کی علامتیں بیان کی گئی ہیں؛ اور گنگا کی عظمت کے ساتھ وہ تعلیم تمام گناہوں کو مٹانے والی ہے۔

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• दानादिकानाम्: of gifts and the like
• दानादिकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: दानं च आदि च (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: 'beginning with gifts') + -क (grouping suffix)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed/described
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• गङ्गामाहात्म्यसहितम्: together with the glory of the Ganges
• गङ्गामाहात्म्यसहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा + माहात्म्य + सहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समास: गङ्गायाः माहात्म्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + सहित (सह + इ + क्त, 'accompanied with')

• सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समास: सर्वेषां पापानां प्रणाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It highlights that the Purana’s guidance on dāna (charitable giving) and related dharmic acts, when taught along with Gaṅgā’s māhātmya, is presented as a means for sarva-pāpa-praṇāśa—removal of accumulated sin and inner impurity.

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

While not naming a specific deity here, it frames dharma (like dāna) and reverence for a sacred tīrtha (Gaṅgā) as supportive disciplines that purify the heart—an essential foundation for steady bhakti and sacred living taught throughout the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to dharma-śāstric practicality: lakṣaṇa (defining criteria) for dāna—i.e., how to recognize proper forms of giving and allied rites—rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.