Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

नृणामाशाभिभूतानामाश्चर्यमिदमुच्यते । किञ्चिद्दातापि चाण्डालस्तस्मादधिकतां गतः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

nṛṇāmāśābhibhūtānāmāścaryamidamucyate | kiñciddātāpi cāṇḍālastasmādadhikatāṃ gataḥ || 26 ||

Translation

关于被贪望所制伏之人，此处称为奇事：即便是旃陀罗，若能施与哪怕些许，也会升至比那样的人更高的境地。

Word by Word

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• आशा-अभिभूतानाम्: of those overwhelmed by hope
• आशा-अभिभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-भूत (भू धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; भूत-कृदन्त (क्त), 'अभिभूत' = overwhelmed; तत्पुरुष-समास (आशया अभिभूताः)

• आश्चर्यम्: a wonder
• आश्चर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• किञ्चित्: a little/something
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (indefinite particle: 'a little/somewhat')

• दाता: a giver
• दाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि-नाम (agent noun)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (concessive)

• चाण्डालः: a caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चाण्डालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक (ablative sense)

• अधिकताम्: superiority/excellence
• अधिकताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गतः: has attained
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner disposition matters more than social label: even small charity elevates a person, while being ruled by craving (āśā) diminishes spiritual standing.

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

By valuing selfless giving over grasping desire, it supports Bhakti’s core mood—offering rather than demanding—making the heart fit for devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dhārmic conduct—dāna as a daily discipline to reduce attachment.