Shloka 38

Rukmāṅgada–Vāmadeva Saṃvāda: Ahimsa, Hunting, and the Fruit of Dvādaśī-Bhakti

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्तिविहीनस्तु द्विजोऽपि श्वपचाधिकः । दुर्लभा भूप राजानो विष्णुभक्ता महीतले ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktivihīnastu dvijo'pi śvapacādhikaḥ | durlabhā bhūpa rājāno viṣṇubhaktā mahītale || 38 ||

Translation

أما ذو الميلادين إذا خلا من بهاكتي لفيشنو، فمع كونه ذا ميلادين يُعَدّ أدنى من آكل الكلب. أيها الملك، إن الملوك البهاكتا لفيشنو على هذه الأرض نادرون حقًّا.

Word by Word

• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनः: devoid of devotion to Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त from √हा with vi-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णुभक्त्या विहीनः = devoid of devotion to Viṣṇu)

• तु: but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/तु=but

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि=even

• श्वपच-अधिकः: worse than an outcaste
• श्वपच-अधिकः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वपच (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (श्वपचात् अधिकः = worse than/outdoing an outcaste)

• दुर्लभाः: rare
• दुर्लभाः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भूप: O king
• भूप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विष्णु-भक्ताः: devotees of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-भक्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त from √भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः भक्ताः)

• महीतले: on the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purana discourse voice, addressing a king as 'bhūpa')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It asserts that spiritual worth is measured by Viṣṇu-bhakti, not by social designation; without devotion, even “dvija” status is spiritually hollow, while devotion is the true marker of dharma.

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

Bhakti is presented as the decisive qualifier: devotion to Viṣṇu elevates one’s inner purity and authority, and even rulers are praised only when their kingship is grounded in Viṣṇu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical—varna learning or ritual identity without devotion is considered spiritually ineffective.