Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

कुटुम्बिनं या शास्त्रज्ञं श्रोत्रियं वा गुणान्वितम् । यो दत्त्वा स्यापयेदृतिं तस्य पुण्यफलं श्रृणु ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

kuṭumbinaṃ yā śāstrajñaṃ śrotriyaṃ vā guṇānvitam | yo dattvā syāpayedṛtiṃ tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śrṛṇu || 48 ||

Translation

或施与居家者，或施与通晓圣典（śāstra）者，或施与具德的闻持者（śrotriya）——凡施已而能解除受者困厄者，当听此行之功德果报。

Word by Word

• kuṭumbinam: a householder
• kuṭumbinam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumbin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object of giving)

• yā: who (she/that which)
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रयोग (relative pronoun)

• śāstra-jñam: knowing the scriptures
• śāstra-jñam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to kuṭumbinam; ‘śāstraṃ jānāti’

• śrotriyam: a learned Vedic scholar
• śrotriyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विकल्पेन (with vā)

• vā: or
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• guṇa-anvitam: endowed with virtues
• guṇa-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to kuṭumbinam/śrotriyam; ‘guṇaiḥ anvitaḥ’ (endowed with qualities)

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) ; dattvā (कृदन्त, त्वा-प्रत्यय/Absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)

• śyāpayet: should cause to (be) ... (uncertain reading)
• śyāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śyā/√śī (धातु, causative sense uncertain)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम/मध्यम? (context expects 3rd person singular), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) सम्भाव्य; पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-रूप (uncertain)

• ṛtim: ṛti (uncertain; possibly ‘relief/aid’ by context)
• ṛtim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद; अर्थ/पाठ अनिश्चित (rare)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• puṇya-phalam: the meritorious fruit (result)
• puṇya-phalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object of hearing)

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Nārada (in dialogue framework with Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames charity (dāna) not merely as transfer of wealth but as dharma when it genuinely removes another’s hardship, especially when offered to qualified and virtuous recipients.

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

By emphasizing compassionate giving to worthy persons and relieving suffering, it supports bhakti as lived devotion—service (sevā) and kindness aligned with scriptural values.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the dhārmic criterion of a “śrotriya” (Veda-trained authority of śruti), reflecting the importance of Vedic learning and qualification when selecting recipients for ritual charity.