Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

महापातकयुक्तस्य त्यक्तस्य ज्ञातिबान्धवैः । कुण्डस्य चापि गोलस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

mahāpātakayuktasya tyaktasya jñātibāndhavaiḥ | kuṇḍasya cāpi golasya dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 15 ||

Translation

若将布施施与染著大罪、为亲族所弃之人——无论称为“库ṇḍa”或“gola”——此施皆成无果，难得功德。

Word by Word

• mahāpātakayuktasya: of one associated with great sins
• mahāpātakayuktasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahāpātakayukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tyaktasya: of one abandoned/outcasted
• tyaktasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); Past Passive Participle

• jñātibāndhavaiḥ: by kinsmen and relatives
• jñātibāndhavaiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता) in passive construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñātibāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kuṇḍasya: of a son born of adultery (while husband is alive)
• kuṇḍasya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• api: also/even
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/Emphasis

• golasya: of a widow's bastard son
• golasya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान) implied context
• Type: Noun
• Root: gola (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattam: that which is given (charity)
• dattam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Past Passive Participle used as noun

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present/लट), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular (एकवचन)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण) to dattam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) is not only about giving, but also about dhārmic discernment: offerings made to recipients deemed severely fallen or ritually ineligible are said to yield no spiritual merit (niṣphala).

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by emphasizing purity of intention and proper dharmic conduct: devotion is strengthened when actions like dāna are aligned with scriptural guidelines rather than done carelessly.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual law) and Dharma-śāstra reasoning—practical rules about the eligibility of recipients and the expected fruit of ritualized giving (dāna) within Vedic-aligned conduct.