Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

कपिलां वेदविदुषे यो ददाति पयस्विनीम् । स एव रुद्रो भूपाल सर्वपापविवर्जितः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

kapilāṃ vedaviduṣe yo dadāti payasvinīm | sa eva rudro bhūpāla sarvapāpavivarjitaḥ || 86 ||

Translation

اے بھوپال! جو وید کے جاننے والے کو کپِلا رنگ کی، دودھ سے بھرپور گائے دان کرے، وہ ہر گناہ سے پاک ہو کر خود رُدر کے مانند ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कपिलाम्: a tawny (cow)
• कपिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद-विशेषण (गाम् implied); Accusative singular

• वेदविदुषे: to a knower of the Veda
• वेदविदुषे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative singular

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; gives

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-giving
• पयस्विनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद-विशेषण (कपिलाम्/गाम्); Accusative singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun, nominative singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle), अव्यय; indeed/only

• रुद्रः: Rudra (as good as Rudra)
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate noun)

• भूपाल: O king
• भूपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• सर्व-पाप-विवर्जितः: free from all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण; Nominative singular qualifying सः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressing the king in the verse as bhūpāla)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

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

It elevates go-dāna (donation of a milch cow) to a Veda-knower as a powerful purifier, stating that the donor attains Rudra-like purity—symbolizing the burning away of sins through a dharmic gift.

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

While focused on dāna, it aligns with bhakti-based dharma: serving sacred persons (Veda-knowers) through selfless giving is treated as a God-pleasing act that purifies the heart and supports a devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse underscores the ritual principle (Kalpa-oriented dharma practice) that the recipient’s qualification matters—dāna is most fruitful when given to a vedavid (Veda-versed), reflecting orthodox rules of proper gifting.