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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

वृत्तिदानं द्विजानां वै महापुण्यं प्रकीर्ततम् । तथैवाध्यात्मविदुषो दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम् ॥ ४७ ॥

vṛttidānaṃ dvijānāṃ vai mahāpuṇyaṃ prakīrtatam | tathaivādhyātmaviduṣo dattaṃ bhavati cākṣayam || 47 ||

دویجوں (برہمنوں) کو گزر بسر کے لیے دان دینا عظیم پُنّیہ کہا گیا ہے؛ اور جو دان آتم-ودیا کے جاننے والے کو دیا جائے وہ اَکشَی، یعنی نہ ختم ہونے والا پھل دیتا ہے۔

vṛtti-dānamgiving of sustenance (support)
vṛtti-dānam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; ‘vṛtteḥ dānam’ (giving of livelihood/support)
dvijānāmof the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
dvijānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन
vaiindeed
vai:
Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात (particle) निश्चयार्थ/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ (indeed)
mahā-puṇyamgreat merit
mahā-puṇyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to vṛtti-dānam
prakīrtitamis proclaimed
prakīrtitam:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
TypeVerb
Root√kīrt (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग) ; prakīrtita (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; vṛtti-dānam इत्यस्य विधेय
tathālikewise
tathā:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण
evaindeed
eva:
Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात (emphasis)
adhyātma-viduṣaḥof the knower of spirituality
adhyātma-viduṣaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootadhyātma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘adhyātmaṃ veda’ = knower of spirituality
dattama gift given
dattam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Root√dā (धातु) ; datta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘that which is given’ (gift)
bhavatibecomes; is
bhavati:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)
akṣayamimperishable
akṣayam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Roota-kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to dattam; नञ्-पूर्वक (negation)

Narada (teaching in a dharma-upadesha context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It ranks “vṛtti-dāna” (sustaining a worthy person’s livelihood) as exceptionally meritorious and teaches that gifts to an adhyātma-knower yield akṣaya-phala—results that do not diminish.

By emphasizing reverent support of spiritually learned persons, it promotes seva and honoring dharmic teachers—practices that strengthen sattva and prepare the heart for steady devotion.

It does not teach a specific Vedanga technique; it highlights the dharmic principle of properly directing dana to sustain Vedic/adhyatmic learning and those qualified to transmit it.