Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

दग्भेन चापि हिंसार्थं परस्याविधिनापि च । क्रुद्धेनाश्रद्धयापात्रे तद्दानं मध्यमं स्मृतम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

dagbhena cāpi hiṃsārthaṃ parasyāvidhināpi ca | kruddhenāśraddhayāpātre taddānaṃ madhyamaṃ smṛtam || 21 ||

Translation

若布施时带着侮辱，或怀害人之意，或依他人不正当之法而行；又若在嗔怒中、无信心地、施与不堪受者——此布施亦被记为中等之施。

Word by Word

• दग्भेन: by one who is burned/afflicted (dagbha)
• दग्भेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दग्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• हिंसार्थम्: for the purpose of harm
• हिंसार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा+अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः हिंसाया अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• परस्य: of another (person)
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अविधिना: by improper method/against rule
• अविधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्रुद्धेन: by an angry (person)
• क्रुद्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• अश्रद्धया: with lack of faith
• अश्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अपात्रे: in/to an unworthy recipient
• अपात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेतक (correlative) ‘दानम्’ इत्यस्य

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मध्यमम्: middling/medium
• मध्यमम्: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• स्मृतम्: is regarded
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that the merit of dāna depends not only on the object given but on intention, śraddhā, proper vidhi, and the worthiness of the recipient; harmful or faithless giving yields only middling spiritual fruit.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent, non-harmful offering; giving in anger or to injure others contradicts devotion, because true offering is meant to please the Divine through purity of heart and conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the importance of vidhi (correct ritual procedure) and discernment of pātra/apātra—practical dharma-application aligned with śāstra-guided conduct rather than impulsive or socially pressured giving.