Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
दुर्जनं प्रणतिं यान्तं मित्रं कैतवशीलिनम् । दुष्टां भार्यां च विश्वस्तो मृत एव न संशयः ॥ ४९ ॥
durjanaṃ praṇatiṃ yāntaṃ mitraṃ kaitavaśīlinam | duṣṭāṃ bhāryāṃ ca viśvasto mṛta eva na saṃśayaḥ || 49 ||
Wer einem Bösewicht vertraut, selbst wenn er sich unterwürfig verneigt, einem Freund von trügerischer Art und einer verdorbenen Gattin — der ist so gut wie tot; daran besteht kein Zweifel.
Narada (didactic instruction within the Purva Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It teaches viveka (discrimination): spiritual life requires vigilance, because trusting deceitful influences destroys one’s safety, clarity, and dharmic stability—making progress feel “dead” even while living.
Bhakti is protected by sadachara and satsanga; if one entrusts oneself to deceitful people or corrupt relationships, the mind becomes disturbed and faith becomes vulnerable, obstructing steady remembrance of Vishnu.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is nīti—ethical discernment in relationships, which supports all sadhana and vrata observance through mental steadiness.