Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
एकतो भयभीतस्य प्राणिनः प्राणरक्षणम् । संरक्षति महीपाल यो विप्रं भयविह्वलम् ॥ ८९ ॥
ekato bhayabhītasya prāṇinaḥ prāṇarakṣaṇam | saṃrakṣati mahīpāla yo vipraṃ bhayavihvalam || 89 ||
Einerseits ist es das Bewahren des Lebens eines Wesens, das vor Gefahr erzittert. Ebenso schützt der König, der einen von Furcht überwältigten Brahmanen behütet, wahrhaftig das Leben selbst.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It equates offering protection to a fear-stricken Brahmin with saving life itself, presenting protection (rakṣā) as a direct act of dharma that preserves prāṇa and earns great merit.
By framing protection of the vulnerable as sacred service, it supports bhakti as lived reverence—honoring dharma and the Lord’s order through compassionate action, especially toward those devoted to Vedic life.
No specific Vedanga is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmaśāstric—royal responsibility (rājadharma) to grant refuge and protection, especially to vipras who uphold Vedic learning and rites.