Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
धनाढ्यः कुरुते यस्तु तडागं फलसाधनम् । दरिद्र ः कुरुते कूपं समं पुण्यं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ १७ ॥
dhanāḍhyaḥ kurute yastu taḍāgaṃ phalasādhanam | daridra ḥ kurute kūpaṃ samaṃ puṇyaṃ prakīrtitam || 17 ||
富者若建池塘以作有益众生的善业，贫者若掘井以济人——二者皆被宣说为获得同等的功德。
Narada (teaching within a dharma-upadesha context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that merit is measured by sincere intention and proportionate effort, not by the absolute scale of the gift—public welfare done within one’s means yields equal punya.
By emphasizing humble, capacity-based service for the benefit of beings, it supports a bhakti-oriented ethic: offering one’s best (even if small) as a selfless act aligned with dharma.
Ritual-practical dharma guidance is highlighted—identifying loka-hita karmas (like providing water) as meritorious acts; it is more aligned with dharma-shastra style instruction than a specific Vedanga technique.