Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

दद्यादाढ्यस्तु नगरं हस्तमात्रमकिञ्चनः । भुवं तयोः समफलं प्राहुर्वेदविदो जनाः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

dadyādāḍhyastu nagaraṃ hastamātramakiñcanaḥ | bhuvaṃ tayoḥ samaphalaṃ prāhurvedavido janāḥ || 16 ||

Translation

富者当施舍乃至一座城邑；贫者但当奉献手中所能容纳之物。通达吠陀的智者宣说：二种布施所得功德之果，实为同等。

Word by Word

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• आढ्यः: a rich man
• आढ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• नगरम्: a town/city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• हस्तमात्रम्: only a hand’s measure
• हस्तमात्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to (नगरम्) in sense ‘only a hand’s measure’; समासः: हस्तस्य मात्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अकिञ्चनः: a poor man
• अकिञ्चनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकिञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुवम्: land/earth
• भुवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समफलम्: equal in merit
• समफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to (भुवम्) as object-complement: ‘equal in fruit’; कर्मधारयः: समं फलम् यस्य तत्

• प्राहुः: have said/declare
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: वेदान् वेत्ति इति वेदविद् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Narada (teaching Dana-Dharma in the Narada Purana discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the merit (puṇya/phala) of charity is judged by sincerity and capacity, not by absolute monetary size—so a small gift given by the poor can equal a vast gift given by the rich.

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

By valuing intention over magnitude, it aligns with bhakti’s emphasis on heartfelt offering—what matters is the devotee’s inner dedication rather than external display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Dharma-śāstra style reasoning (ethical application of Vedic authority): charity should be calibrated to one’s śakti (means), indicating a practical rule for ritualized giving rather than a technical Vedanga like Vyākaraṇa.