Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

ताम्रीभिस्तच्छतगुणं हेम्ना कोटिगुणं भवेत् । देवालयं तडागं वा ग्रामं वा पालयेत्तु यः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tāmrībhistacchataguṇaṃ hemnā koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet | devālayaṃ taḍāgaṃ vā grāmaṃ vā pālayettu yaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

Nếu làm bằng đồng thì công đức tăng gấp trăm; nếu làm bằng vàng thì tăng đến một koṭi lần. Ai bảo hộ đền thờ Thần, ao hồ (tadāga), hay cả một làng xóm, cũng được phước quả nhân lên như thế.

Word by Word

• ताम्रीभिः: with copper (materials)
• ताम्रीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• तत्: that (result)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; deictic ‘that (result)’

• शत-गुणम्: hundredfold
• शत-गुणम्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (numeral determinative: ‘hundredfold’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• हेम्ना: with gold
• हेम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कोटि-गुणम्: ten-million-fold (crore-fold)
• कोटि-गुणम्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘crore-fold’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देव-आलयम्: a temple
• देव-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘of a god’ → ‘temple’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तडागम्: a pond/tank
• तडागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• ग्रामम्: a village
• ग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• पालयेत्: should protect/maintain
• पालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that preserving sacred and public-supporting institutions—temples, water reservoirs, and village welfare—is a high Dharma whose spiritual fruit is greatly multiplied, especially when supported by valuable endowments.

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

By emphasizing devālaya-pālana (protecting and sustaining the Lord’s temple) as a form of seva, it frames devotion as practical service that supports worship, pilgrims, and the continuity of dharmic life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style ritual economy—how materials used in religious endowments affect prescribed merit—rather than a specific Vedanga like Vyākaraṇa; the practical takeaway is the rule of proportionality in dana/seva for public works.