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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

धर्माचारं परित्यज्य वृथावादैर्विषज्जिताः । द्विजाः कुर्वंति दंभार्थं पितृश्राद्धादिकाः क्रियाः ॥ ४५ ॥

dharmācāraṃ parityajya vṛthāvādairviṣajjitāḥ | dvijāḥ kurvaṃti daṃbhārthaṃ pitṛśrāddhādikāḥ kriyāḥ || 45 ||

بتركهم السلوك القويم وتدنّسهم بالكلام الفارغ، سيؤدي بعض ذوي الميلادين طقوسًا كالشّرادها (śrāddha) للآباء والأجداد لا لوجه الحق، بل للرياء والتظاهر.

dharma-ācāramdharma and proper conduct
dharma-ācāram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (dharmaś ca ācāraś ca) used as a single object
parityajyahaving abandoned
parityajya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpari-√tyaj (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययीभाववत्)
vṛthā-vādaiḥwith false talk
vṛthā-vādaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛthā (अव्यय) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (vṛthā eva vādaḥ = false/idle talk)
viṣajjitāḥattached, clinging
viṣajjitāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-√saj (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
dvijāḥtwice-born (Brahmins etc.)
dvijāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
kurvantithey do/perform
kurvanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormPresent tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
daṃbha-arthamfor show, for hypocrisy
daṃbha-artham:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootdaṃbha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (daṃbhasya arthaḥ = for the sake of hypocrisy/show); used adverbially (प्रयोजन)
pitṛ-śrāddha-ādikāḥsuch as ancestral śrāddha
pitṛ-śrāddha-ādikāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (pitṝṇāṃ śrāddham = ancestral śrāddha; ādi = etc.) qualifying kriyāḥ
kriyāḥrites, actions
kriyāḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

P
Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

It warns that rituals without dharmic conduct and sincere intent become mere hypocrisy; spiritual merit depends on inner integrity, not public display.

By condemning ostentatious rites, it indirectly supports Bhakti’s emphasis on sincerity and purity of heart—devotion is not a performance but a truthful inner orientation.

It highlights ritual discipline (kalpa-related practice) by stressing that śrāddha and allied kriyās must be grounded in proper dharmācāra; otherwise the rite loses its intended efficacy.