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 ||
Việc trợ giúp sinh kế cho hàng “nhị sinh” (Bà-la-môn) được tán dương là đại công đức; cũng vậy, của bố thí cho bậc thông đạt tri kiến về Ngã (Ātman) trở thành phước quả bất hoại, không cạn kiệt.
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.