Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
तस्मिन्यो याति विश्वासं तं विद्यादात्मघातकम् । सर्वेषु प्राणिनः श्रेष्टास्तेषु वै बुद्धिजीविनः ॥ ३४ ॥
tasminyo yāti viśvāsaṃ taṃ vidyādātmaghātakam | sarveṣu prāṇinaḥ śreṣṭāsteṣu vai buddhijīvinaḥ || 34 ||
فاعلموا أن من يضع ثقته في ذلك (مما لا يستحق الثقة) فهو قاتلُ نفسه. ومن بين جميع الكائنات الحيّة فالإنسان هو الأفضل؛ ومن بين البشر حقًّا الأفضل هم الذين يحيون على هدى العقل السديد.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It warns that faith placed in an unworthy support becomes ātmaghāta—self-harm—because it derails discernment (viveka) and leads one away from dharma and liberation.
Bhakti is not blind credulity; it is steady faith anchored in a worthy object—Bhagavān and sādhus. The verse implies that misdirected trust obstructs true devotion by empowering harmful influences.
The takeaway is ethical discernment rather than a specific Vedāṅga ritual: one should use buddhi (reasoned judgment) to evaluate teachers, teachings, and practices before giving trust.