Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62
Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions
शूद्रतुल्यः स विज्ञेयो नरकस्य प्रियोऽतिथिः । अनधीतश्रुतिर्विप्र आचार प्रतिपद्यते ॥ ६२ ॥
śūdratulyaḥ sa vijñeyo narakasya priyo'tithiḥ | anadhītaśrutirvipra ācāra pratipadyate || 62 ||
যে ব্রাহ্মণ শ্রুতি অধ্যয়ন করেনি, তাকে শূদ্রসম—নরকের প্রিয় অতিথি—জানতে হবে। তবু সে আচারের বাহ্যরূপ ধারণ করে॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It asserts that spiritual authority and dharmic status depend on actual engagement with Śruti (Vedic revelation), not birth or outward etiquette; neglect of Vedic learning leads one toward adharma and painful afterlife consequences.
Indirectly, it sets a prerequisite for authentic religious life: devotion and practice must be grounded in scriptural hearing and study; without śāstric foundation, even “pious” behavior becomes hollow and spiritually unfruitful.
The verse highlights the primacy of Śruti-study, which in practice relies on Vedāṅga supports such as Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to learn, preserve, and correctly understand Vedic teaching.