Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

यद्दानं श्रद्धया दत्तं तथा विष्णुसमर्पणम् । याचितं वापि पात्रेण भवेत्तद्दानमुत्तमम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

yaddānaṃ śraddhayā dattaṃ tathā viṣṇusamarpaṇam | yācitaṃ vāpi pātreṇa bhavettaddānamuttamam || 19 ||

Translation

Của bố thí nào được dâng với lòng tín thành và hiến cúng như lễ vật lên Đức Vishnu—dẫu được trao khi bậc xứng đáng thỉnh cầu—thì bố thí ấy là tối thượng.

Word by Word

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Relative Pronoun

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karana (Instrument/करण) or Manner
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Past Passive Participle

• tathā: likewise/and
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• viṣṇusamarpaṇam: offered to Vishnu
• viṣṇusamarpaṇam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण) or Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇusamarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yācitam: asked for/solicited
• yācitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yācita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Past Passive Participle

• vā: or
• vā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• pātreṇa: by a worthy recipient
• pātreṇa: Karta (Agent/कर्ता) of yācitam
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavet: should be/is considered
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Correlative Pronoun

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: best/highest
• uttamam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण) or Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines ‘uttama-dāna’ as charity rooted in śraddhā and consecrated to Vishnu, making the act spiritually elevating rather than merely social or transactional.

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

By turning giving into viṣṇu-samarpaṇa (offering to Vishnu), it frames charity as an act of bhakti—where intention and dedication to the Lord purify the deed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discernment central to Dharma-śāstra practice—especially the concept of pātra (worthy recipient) and śraddhā (proper intention) as criteria for the fruit of dāna.