Shloka 40

Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

दुर्लभं कांचनं दानं दुर्लभं हरिपूजनम् । दुर्लभा वैष्णवी दीक्षा दुर्लभः स्मृतिसंग्रहः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

durlabhaṃ kāṃcanaṃ dānaṃ durlabhaṃ haripūjanam | durlabhā vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā durlabhaḥ smṛtisaṃgrahaḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Bố thí vàng thật hiếm; thờ phụng Hari cũng hiếm. Thọ nhận Vaiṣṇava dīkṣā thật hiếm, và hiếm thay bản tập hợp Smṛti chân chính—được gìn giữ và sưu tập đúng pháp.

Word by Word

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicative with ‘dānam’

• kāṃcanam: gold
• kāṃcanam: Karma/Viśeṣya (Appositional/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dānam: gift, charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicative with ‘pūjanam’

• hari-pūjanam: worship of Hari
• hari-pūjanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘hareḥ pūjanam’ (worship of Hari)

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vaiṣṇavī: Vaiṣṇava, pertaining to Viṣṇu
• vaiṣṇavī: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; derived adjective from Viṣṇu (taddhita)

• dīkṣā: initiation
• dīkṣā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• durlabhaḥ: rare
• durlabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• smṛti-saṃgrahaḥ: compendium of Smṛti texts
• smṛti-saṃgrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘smṛtīnāṃ saṃgrahaḥ’ (collection/compendium of smṛtis)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga context; dialogue tradition commonly framed with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It ranks four hard-to-attain treasures of dharma—pure charity (gold-dāna), sincere worship of Hari, authentic Vaiṣṇava initiation, and reliable preservation of Smṛti—implying that true religious life requires rarity-grade sincerity, not mere social custom.

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

By declaring haripūjanam and vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā as “rare,” it emphasizes that genuine Bhakti arises from commitment, guidance, and consecration—worship supported by right practice and lineage rather than occasional ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to Dharma-śāstra/Smṛti transmission as a practical knowledge system—how rules of conduct, ritual duties, and tradition are accurately compiled and preserved (a prerequisite for correct ritual application).