Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41
Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation
नास्त्यकीर्तिसमो मृत्युर्नास्ति क्रोधसमो रिपुः । नास्ति निंदासमं पापं नास्ति मोहसमासवः ॥ ४१ ॥
nāstyakīrtisamo mṛtyurnāsti krodhasamo ripuḥ | nāsti niṃdāsamaṃ pāpaṃ nāsti mohasamāsavaḥ || 41 ||
অপকীর্তির সমান মৃত্যু নেই; ক্রোধের সমান শত্রু নেই। নিন্দার সমান পাপ নেই; মোহের সমান নেশা নেই।
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It ranks inner downfalls—disgrace, anger, slander, and delusion—as forces that destroy spiritual merit more effectively than external dangers, urging purification of speech, mind, and conduct as a foundation for dharma and liberation.
Bhakti matures through śuddhi (inner purity): anger disrupts devotion, slander violates compassionate speech, and delusion intoxicates the mind—so restraining these becomes practical support for steady remembrance and worship.
It most directly aligns with disciplined speech and meaning (a Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style takeaway): avoid nindā (harmful utterance) and cultivate truthful, beneficial language, since speech is a primary instrument of dharmic life.