Shloka 20
Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme
नारद उवाच अनाम्नायमला वेदा ब्राह्मणस्याव्रतं मलम् । मलं॑ पृथिव्या वाहीका: स्त्रीणां कौतूहलं मलम्
nārada uvāca | anāmnāyamala vedā brāhmaṇasyāvrataṃ malam | malaṃ pṛthivyā vāhīkāḥ strīṇāṃ kautūhalaṃ malam |
Narada sprach: „Für die Veden ist der Makel das Nicht-Rezitieren und die Vernachlässigung des Studiums; für einen Brahmanen ist der Makel das Fehlen von Gelübden und disziplinierter Lebensführung. Für die Erde sind die Vāhīkas ein Schandfleck; und für Frauen ist ruhelose Neugier ein Makel.“
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘mala’ (blemish) as neglect of one’s proper discipline: sacred knowledge decays without regular recitation; a Brahmin’s role is compromised without vows and regulated conduct; and it warns against traits seen as socially disruptive (here, stereotyped as curiosity in women), emphasizing restraint and steadiness as ethical ideals.
In the Shanti Parva’s didactic setting, Narada delivers aphoristic moral observations. This verse is part of a list-like instruction where he identifies what counts as a ‘stain’ for different domains (scripture, social role, the world), aiming to sharpen the listener’s sense of dharma through concise contrasts.