Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

प्रणदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । वदन्तीति महाप्राज्ञाः प्राणदानं कुरुष्व मे ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

praṇadānātparaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati | vadantīti mahāprājñāḥ prāṇadānaṃ kuruṣva me || 61 ||

Translation

大智者宣说：“过去未曾有，未来亦不会有，比护佑更高的布施。”因此，请赐我生命之施——救我脱难。

Word by Word

• प्राण-दानात्: than the gift of life
• प्राण-दानात्: अपादान (Source/standard of comparison/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्राणानां दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: greater
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); तुलनार्थ (comparative sense: higher)

• दानम्: gift, charity
• दानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भूतम्: has existed
• भूतम्: कर्म (Predicate complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकालवाचक (past/been)

• न: nor
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• महा-प्राज्ञाः: the very wise (people)
• महा-प्राज्ञाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राण-दानम्: gift of life
• प्राण-दानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्राणानां दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरुष्व: do, perform
• कुरुष्व: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person/मध्यम), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• मे: for me / to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Dative/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Unspecified petitioner (a speaker within the narrative addressing the listener directly)

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 elevates prāṇadāna—protecting or saving a life—as the greatest form of dāna, teaching that compassion and preservation of life generate the highest dharmic merit.

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

By prioritizing mercy and protection of living beings, it aligns conduct with sattva and devotion-friendly virtues, implying that true bhakti expresses itself through compassion and safeguarding life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the verse is primarily a dharma-ethical rule about dāna, emphasizing life-protection over material gifting.