Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

प्रतिश्रुत्याप्रदानेन लालाभक्षं व्रजेन्नरः । यतिनिन्दापरो राजन् शिलानमात्रे प्रयाति हि ॥ १२४ ॥

Transliteration

pratiśrutyāpradānena lālābhakṣaṃ vrajennaraḥ | yatinindāparo rājan śilānamātre prayāti hi || 124 ||

Translation

Wer ein Versprechen gibt und es nicht hält, wird dazu herabgewürdigt, sich von Speichel zu ernähren. Wer aber Asketen schmäht, o König, wird wahrlich in den Zustand eines bloßen Steines hinabgestoßen.

Word by Word

• pratiśrutya: having promised
• pratiśrutya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati-√śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √śru with upasarga prati-

• apradānena: by not giving (what was promised)
• apradānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by non-giving/through failure to give’

• lālā-bhakṣam: food of saliva/spittle (disgusting fare)
• lālā-bhakṣam: Karma (कर्म) (destination/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lālā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष) ‘lālā eva bhakṣaḥ’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used predicatively with vrajet

• vrajet: would go/should go
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yati-nindā-paraḥ: devoted to criticizing ascetics
• yati-nindā-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘nindāyāṃ paraḥ’ with first member yati-; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying naraḥ

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• śilānamātre: in a mere stone(-state)
• śilānamātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘śilāyāḥ mātram’; Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in/at mere stone(-like state)’

• prayāti: goes/attains
• prayāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

Speaker

Narada (addressing a King as part of Dharma instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Yati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

The verse ranks ethical integrity as a core dharma: breaking a pledged gift (apradāna after pratiśruti) and abusing renunciants (yati-nindā) generate severe karmic downfall, warning that speech and conduct toward dharma and its guardians directly shape one’s future state.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is inseparable from humility and reverence; slandering yatis—who embody restraint and devotion—undermines devotion itself. The verse implies that honoring the devout and keeping one’s vowed offerings supports a sattvic, Vishnu-aligned life, while contempt and deceit obstruct spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights dharma-nīti rather than a technical Vedanga: the practical rule is to keep one’s vowed or promised dāna precisely as spoken, since verbal commitment (vāṅ-niyama) has binding karmic force in śāstric ethics.