Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75
Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy
Transition to Vedānta Inquiry
वेदनिंदापराश्चैव धर्मशास्त्रविनिंदुकाः । शूद्रवृत्त्यैव जीवंति नरकार्हा द्विजा मुने ॥ ७५ ॥
vedaniṃdāparāścaiva dharmaśāstraviniṃdukāḥ | śūdravṛttyaiva jīvaṃti narakārhā dvijā mune || 75 ||
হে মুনি! যে দ্বিজরা বেদ-নিন্দায় রত এবং ধর্মশাস্ত্রকে তুচ্ছ করে—শুধু শূদ্রবৃত্তি অবলম্বনে জীবিকা চালায়—তারা নরকের যোগ্য।
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It asserts that rejecting Vedic authority and ridiculing Dharmaśāstra is spiritually corrosive; for a dvija, such contempt combined with abandoning prescribed conduct leads to severe karmic consequences (nāraka-phala).
By implication, bhakti is grounded in śraddhā toward śāstra; reviling the Vedas and dharma-texts undermines the very framework through which devotion is practiced and safeguarded as sadācāra.
The verse points to śāstra-prāmāṇya (scriptural authority) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it emphasizes disciplined adherence to dharma-text guidance that governs ritual conduct and daily duties.