Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
हृताश्वं साधुभावेन बकवद्ध्य्नातत्परम् । सन्ति चाहो खला लोके कुर्वन्त्याडम्बरं महत् ॥ ९८ ॥
hṛtāśvaṃ sādhubhāvena bakavaddhynātatparam | santi cāho khalā loke kurvantyāḍambaraṃ mahat || 98 ||
Indem er eine heilige Haltung annahm wie ein Kranich, täuschte er Hṛtāśva. Ach, in dieser Welt gibt es böse Menschen, die Frömmigkeit nur vortäuschen.
Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It warns that external marks of holiness—posed meditation and a saintly facade—can be used to deceive; true dharma is measured by inner purity and conduct, not public display.
Bhakti requires sincerity (bhāva) and integrity; the verse critiques performative spirituality, implying that devotion is authentic when it transforms character rather than merely producing an impressive appearance.
It highlights ethical discernment used in dharma-practice—evaluating actions and character (ācāra) rather than relying on external signs; no specific Vedanga technicality (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught in this verse.