Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

अहो राजन्महाभाग शोभनीचरितं तव । सर्वभूतहितत्वादि मादृशामपि दुर्लभम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

aho rājanmahābhāga śobhanīcaritaṃ tava | sarvabhūtahitatvādi mādṛśāmapi durlabham || 39 ||

Translation

啊，大王，福德深厚者！你的行持实在庄严可敬。诸如为一切众生谋福之德，确是难得，即便在我们这类人中亦属罕见。

Word by Word

• अहो: ah! / indeed
• अहो: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मय/उद्गार (interjection)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा+भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = ‘one who has great fortune’

• शोभनी-चरितम्: your noble conduct
• शोभनी-चरितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभनी (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘beautiful (i.e., noble) conduct’

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्व-भूत-हितत्व-आदि: (qualities) like being beneficial to all beings
• सर्व-भूत-हितत्व-आदि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + हितत्व (प्रातिपदिक; हित+त्व) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘beginning with (ādi) the state of being beneficial to all beings’

• मादृशाम्: for people like us
• मादृशाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of people like me/us’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘even/also’

• दुर्लभम्: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्+लभ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanaka brothers), addressing a king

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It praises sarva-bhūta-hitatva—universal benevolence—as a hallmark of true dharma, presenting compassion and public welfare as spiritually elevated virtues, not merely social qualities.

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

While not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti, the verse aligns with bhakti’s ethical fruit: a heart that seeks the good of all beings. Compassionate conduct is treated as an outward sign of inner spiritual maturity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharmic application—cultivating sadācāra (noble conduct) and sarva-bhūta-hita as guiding principles for leadership and daily life.