Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

धर्मालयं विमानेन याति भोगान्वितेन वै । अनडुद्दो मुनिश्रेष्ट यानारुढः प्रयाति वै ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dharmālayaṃ vimānena yāti bhogānvitena vai | anaḍuddo muniśreṣṭa yānāruḍhaḥ prayāti vai || 23 ||

Translation

لذتوں سے بھرے وِمان پر سوار ہو کر وہ یقیناً دھرم کے آستانے کو جاتا ہے۔ اے مُنی شریشٹھ! بیل دان کرنے والا سواری پر چڑھ کر روانہ ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• धर्म-आलयम्: to the abode of dharma
• धर्म-आलयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य आलयः)

• विमानेन: by an aerial car
• विमानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• याति: goes
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भोग-अन्वितेन: with enjoyment (endowed with pleasures)
• भोग-अन्वितेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; अनु-√इ धातु/अन्वि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘अन्वित’; तत्पुरुषः (भोगैः अन्वितेन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अनडुद्दः: the giver of a bull/ox (implied)
• अनडुद्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनडुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनडुद्’ (बलीवर्द/वृषभः)

• मुनिश्रेष्ट: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ट: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिश्रेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + श्रेष्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुनिषु श्रेष्ठः)

• यान-आरुढः: mounted on a vehicle
• यान-आरुढः: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढ (कृदन्त; आ√रुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आरूढ’; तत्पुरुषः (याने आरूढः)

• प्रयाति: proceeds/goes forth
• प्रयाति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√या (धातु; या)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-phala context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

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

It states that charity aligned with dharma—specifically anaḍut-dāna (donation of a bull)—yields a refined post-death passage: the soul is conveyed in a vimāna and attains dharmālaya, symbolizing a righteous, protected destination shaped by punya (merit).

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

While the verse directly praises dāna as karma-phala, it supports the broader Purāṇic bhakti framework: righteous giving done with faith and reverence purifies intention, strengthens sattva, and becomes an offering that complements Vishnu-bhakti-oriented living even when the immediate result is described as bhoga and heavenly transit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: the verse reflects dāna-vidhi thinking—specific gifts produce specific results—showing the practical dharma-śāstra style mapping of actions (dāna) to outcomes (vimāna, bhoga, dharmālaya).