Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

हेमदो विष्णुभवनं प्रयाति स्वकुलान्वितः । यस्तु कन्यामलङ्कृत्य ददात्यध्यात्मवेदिने ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

hemado viṣṇubhavanaṃ prayāti svakulānvitaḥ | yastu kanyāmalaṅkṛtya dadātyadhyātmavedine || 91 ||

Translation

Người bố thí vàng sẽ đến cõi của Viṣṇu cùng với gia tộc mình. Nhưng người trang sức cho con gái rồi gả nàng cho bậc biết đạo nội ngã (adhyātma-vedin) cũng đạt đến mục tiêu tối thượng ấy.

Word by Word

• हेमदः: a giver of gold
• हेमदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम-द (प्रातिपदिक); हेम + द
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हेमं ददाति)

• विष्णुभवनम्: Vishnu’s abode
• विष्णुभवनम्: Gati-Karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-भवन (प्रातिपदिक); विष्णु + भवन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः भवनम्)

• प्रयाति: goes; attains
• प्रयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present, Active, 3rd person, Singular

• स्वकुलान्वितः: accompanied by his own family
• स्वकुलान्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-कुल-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक); स्व + कुल + अन्वित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (स्वकुलेन अन्वितः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात — particle ‘but/indeed’

• कन्याम्: a maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• अलङ्कृत्य: having adorned
• अलङ्कृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्त्वार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलम्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) — Absolutive ‘having adorned’

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present, Active, 3rd person, Singular

• अध्यात्मवेदिने: to a knower of the inner self (spiritual wisdom)
• अध्यात्मवेदिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यात्म-वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक); अध्यात्म + वेदिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (अध्यात्मं वेत्ति)

Speaker

Nārada (teaching in dialogue context with the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It ranks dharmic giving as a direct means to Viṣṇu’s abode, highlighting that gifts aligned with spiritual wisdom—especially giving a daughter in marriage to an adhyātma-knower—carry exceptionally elevating merit.

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

By presenting “Viṣṇu-bhavana” as the fruit, the verse frames charity and sacred household duties as offerings that culminate in devotionally oriented liberation—reaching Viṣṇu through dharma performed with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmaśāstra-aligned ritual practice (dāna and vivāha-saṃskāra): proper gifting (hemadāna) and kanyādāna to a spiritually qualified recipient, emphasizing eligibility (adhikāra) and intention in rites.