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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

दुर्जनं प्रणतिं यान्तं मित्रं कैतवशीलिनम् । दुष्टां भार्यां च विश्वस्तो मृत एव न संशयः ॥ ४९ ॥

durjanaṃ praṇatiṃ yāntaṃ mitraṃ kaitavaśīlinam | duṣṭāṃ bhāryāṃ ca viśvasto mṛta eva na saṃśayaḥ || 49 ||

مَن يثق بشريرٍ وإن أتى خاضعًا منحنِيًا، وبصديقٍ طبعه الخداع، وبزوجةٍ فاسدة—فهو كالميّت لا ريب في ذلك.

durjanama wicked man
durjanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: durjanaḥ = bad person
praṇatimbowing, submission
praṇatim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpraṇati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana
yāntamgoing/approaching (in submission)
yāntam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootyā (धातु)
FormŚatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with durjanam
mitrama friend
mitram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana
kaitava-śīlinamdeceitful by nature
kaitava-śīlinam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootkaitava (प्रातिपदिक) + śīlin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: kaitavaṃ śīlaṃ yasya/yaḥ (habitually deceitful)
duṣṭāmwicked
duṣṭām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootduṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; qualifies bhāryām
bhāryāmwife
bhāryām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
viśvastaḥa trusting person
viśvastaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootviśvasta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate/subject: ‘one who trusts’
mṛtaḥdead
mṛtaḥ:
Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate adjective
evaindeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; avadhāraṇa-nipāta (emphasis)
nano
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; niṣedha (negation) used with saṃśayaḥ
saṃśayaḥdoubt
saṃśayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsaṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

Narada (didactic instruction within the Purva Bhaga)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

It teaches viveka (discrimination): spiritual life requires vigilance, because trusting deceitful influences destroys one’s safety, clarity, and dharmic stability—making progress feel “dead” even while living.

Bhakti is protected by sadachara and satsanga; if one entrusts oneself to deceitful people or corrupt relationships, the mind becomes disturbed and faith becomes vulnerable, obstructing steady remembrance of Vishnu.

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is nīti—ethical discernment in relationships, which supports all sadhana and vrata observance through mental steadiness.