Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22
Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation
संयताश्चैव तक्षाश्च मतिमंतश्च मानवाः । दृश्यंते निष्फलाः संतः प्रहीनाश्च स्वकर्मभिः ॥ २२ ॥
saṃyatāścaiva takṣāśca matimaṃtaśca mānavāḥ | dṛśyaṃte niṣphalāḥ saṃtaḥ prahīnāśca svakarmabhiḥ || 22 ||
Selbst Selbstbeherrschte, geschickte Handwerker und kluge Menschen erscheinen im Leben fruchtlos, weil sie von ihren eigenen rechten Pflichten und Handlungen abgefallen sind.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that inner restraint, intelligence, or professional skill alone does not yield spiritual or worldly “fruit” unless one remains established in svadharma—rightly performed duties aligned with dharma.
By implication, bhakti is not mere sentiment or identity as a “good person”; it must be supported by dharmic living and right action. Devotion to Vishnu becomes steady and fruitful when one does not abandon righteous duties.
The verse highlights the applied principle of dharma-shastra reasoning—discerning svadharma (one’s proper duty). It is a practical takeaway often connected with Kalpa (ritual/duty procedures) rather than grammar or astrology.