Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa
Dharmakīrti before Yama
मखाश्च सर्वे विध्वस्ता कूटयुक्तिविदा मया । अधर्मनिरतं मां तु दृष्ट्वा महेशजाः प्रजाः ॥ ५८ ॥
makhāśca sarve vidhvastā kūṭayuktividā mayā | adharmanirataṃ māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā maheśajāḥ prajāḥ || 58 ||
Alle Opferhandlungen wurden von mir zunichtegemacht, da ich in krummen Ränken kundig war; und als die von Maheśa geborenen Geschöpfe mich dem Adharma ergeben sahen, wandten auch sie sich dem Adharma zu.
Adharma-personified narrator (speaking within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It warns that adharma spreads socially: when a powerful or visible agent embraces deceit and unrighteousness, even communities (prajāḥ) begin to imitate it, leading to the collapse of sacred yajña and dharmic order.
By showing how yajña can be corrupted by deceit, the verse indirectly emphasizes inner purity and dharmic conduct—foundational supports for genuine Vishnu-bhakti in the Narada Purana’s broader teaching.
It highlights the ritual domain (Kalpa/Vaidika karma): sacrifices (makha/yajña) depend on correct procedure and ethical intent; when practice is driven by kūṭa-yukti (fraud), the rite becomes spiritually void and collapses.