Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali
मात्रा हीना जना मातर्मृतप्राया न संशयः । गावो वा पशवो वापि यत्र गावो महीरुहाः ॥ ४३ ॥
mātrā hīnā janā mātarmṛtaprāyā na saṃśayaḥ | gāvo vā paśavo vāpi yatra gāvo mahīruhāḥ || 43 ||
হে মাতা, যাদের মধ্যে যথোচিত মাত্রা ও সংযম নেই, তারা নিঃসন্দেহে মৃতপ্রায়। গরু হোক বা অন্য পশু—যেখানে গাভীকে মাটিতে গাঁথা বৃক্ষের মতো কেবল বোঝাবহ পশু গণ্য করা হয়, সেখানে জীবন জড় ও অধঃপতিত হয়।
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; vocative 'mātar' indicates an addressed Mother-figure within the discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)
FAQs
It teaches that life becomes spiritually inert when people lose “mātrā”—right measure, restraint, and dharmic proportion—resulting in a condition described as ‘almost dead’ even while living.
Bhakti is sustained by dharmic order and compassion; protecting and honoring life—especially through go-sevā—supports sattva and makes the heart fit for remembrance and worship of the Divine.
The key practical principle is “mātrā” (measure/proportion), a foundational idea aligned with Śikṣā (correct regulation/discipline) and ritual propriety—without proper measure, practice becomes fruitless and life declines.