Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

चण्डस्य पुत्रहीनस्य दम्भाचाररतस्य च । स्वकर्मत्यागिनश्चापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

caṇḍasya putrahīnasya dambhācāraratasya ca | svakarmatyāginaścāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || 4 ||

Translation

若将布施施与残忍之人、无子而不负家系之责者、沉迷伪善行径者，或舍弃本分法度之人，此布施便成无果。

Word by Word

• caṇḍasya: of the fierce/angry one
• caṇḍasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• putrahīnasya: of the sonless one
• putrahīnasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putrahīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• dambhācāraratasya: of one delighting in hypocritical conduct
• dambhācāraratasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dambhācārarata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

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

• svakarmatyāginaḥ: of one who abandons one's own duty
• svakarmatyāginaḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svakarmatyāgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

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

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

• dattam: that which is given (charity)
• dattam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dā (धातु - kta pratyaya)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Kartri-visheshana (Subject Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Purva Bhaga dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

FAQs

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

It teaches that dāna (charity) is not merely an act of giving; its spiritual fruit depends on the moral and dharmic fitness of the recipient. Giving to cruel, hypocritical, or duty-abandoning persons is said to yield no merit.

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

Bhakti is aligned with purity and sincerity (śuddhi, ārjava). The verse warns against supporting hypocrisy and adharmic conduct, implying that offerings meant for dharma and devotion should be directed toward those who live truthfully and uphold righteous duties.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical Dharma-śāstra reasoning used in ritual life: the “deśa-kāla-pātra” principle of dāna—especially pātra (worthiness of the recipient). This is applied in karmakāṇḍa decision-making even when not explicitly framed as a specific Vedāṅga.