Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54
Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation
नास्तिकस्य कृतघ्नस्य धर्मोपेक्षाकरस्य च । विश्वासघातकस्यापि निष्कृतिर्नास्ति स्रुवते ॥ ५४ ॥
nāstikasya kṛtaghnasya dharmopekṣākarasya ca | viśvāsaghātakasyāpi niṣkṛtirnāsti sruvate || 54 ||
يا سْرُوفَتِه، لا كفّارة للملحد (ناستِكا)، ولا لناكِرِ الجميل، ولا لمُهمِلِ الدَّرما، ولا حتى لِمَن خانَ الثقة.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'Sruvate')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It warns that certain inner corruptions—denial of sacred order, ingratitude, disregard for Dharma, and betrayal of trust—are so destructive that ordinary ritual expiations (prāyaścitta) cannot simply ‘erase’ them; true correction requires deep moral transformation and restoration of right conduct.
Bhakti rests on śraddhā (faith), sincerity, and fidelity; by condemning nāstikya and viśvāsaghāta, the verse implies that devotion to Vishnu cannot coexist with deliberate faithlessness, moral negligence, or betrayal—devotional life must be grounded in trustworthy, dharmic character.
The verse points to Dharma-śāstra style discernment used in ritual life: prāyaścitta has boundaries, and ethical breaches like trust-betrayal and Dharma-neglect are not treated as minor ritual faults correctable by routine rites.