Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

खातो जले महाराज तोयं मासद्वयं स्थितम् । पीतं क्षुद्रैर्वनचरैः सत्त्वैस्तृष्णासमाकुलैः ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

khāto jale mahārāja toyaṃ māsadvayaṃ sthitam | pītaṃ kṣudrairvanacaraiḥ sattvaistṛṣṇāsamākulaiḥ || 89 ||

Translation

Tâu Đại vương, một vũng nước đã được đào; nước còn đọng suốt hai tháng. Nó bị những sinh linh nhỏ bé sống trong rừng, khốn khổ vì cơn khát, uống cạn.

Word by Word

• खातः: (a pit) was dug
• खातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—implied ‘pit’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); implies ‘pit/well’ as subject

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); Karmadhāraya: महा + राज

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of स्थितम्/पीतम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• मास-द्वयम्: for two months
• मास-द्वयम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numerical compound: ‘two months’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) used adverbially for duration

• स्थितम्: remained/stood
• स्थितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with तोयम्

• पीतम्: was drunk
• पीतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with तोयम्

• क्षुद्रैः: by small/lowly
• क्षुद्रैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument ‘by’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies वनचरैः/सत्त्वैः

• वनचरैः: by forest-dwellers
• वनचरैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa: वन (forest) + चर (moving)

• सत्त्वैः: by creatures/beings
• सत्त्वैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तृष्णा-समाकुलैः: afflicted with thirst
• तृष्णा-समाकुलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): ‘distressed by thirst’; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with सत्त्वैः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma expressed as compassion: even a simple act like making water available becomes a life-saving support for many beings and is treated as meritorious conduct.

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

By showing that devotion matures into kindness toward all creatures; serving life (jīva-sevā) is aligned with serving the Divine, a practical expression of sattvic bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this line; it instead emphasizes applied dharma—public welfare through providing water.