Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95
Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
भृगुरुवाच । अत्रोच्यते अनृतात्खलु तमः प्रादुर्भूतं ततस्तमोग्रस्ता अधर्ममेवानुवर्तंते न धर्मं । क्रोधलोभमोहहिंसानृतादिभिखच्छन्नाः खल्वस्मिंल्लोके नामुत्र सुखमाप्नुवंति । विविधव्याधिरुजोपतापैरवकीर्यन्ते वधबन्धनपरिक्लेशादिभिश्च क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमकृतैरुपतापैरुपतप्यंते । वर्षवातात्युष्णातिशीतकृतैश्च प्रतिभयैः शारीरैर्दुःखैरुपतप्यंते बंधुधनविनाशविप्रयोगकृतैश्च मानसैः शौकैरभिभूयंते जरामृत्युकृतैश्चान्यैरिति यस्त्वेतैः ॥ ९५ ॥
bhṛguruvāca | atrocyate anṛtātkhalu tamaḥ prādurbhūtaṃ tatastamograstā adharmamevānuvartaṃte na dharmaṃ | krodhalobhamohahiṃsānṛtādibhikhacchannāḥ khalvasmiṃlloke nāmutra sukhamāpnuvaṃti | vividhavyādhirujopatāpairavakīryante vadhabandhanaparikleśādibhiśca kṣutpipāsāśramakṛtairupatāpairupatapyaṃte | varṣavātātyuṣṇātiśītakṛtaiśca pratibhayaiḥ śārīrairduḥkhairupatapyaṃte baṃdhudhanavināśaviprayogakṛtaiśca mānasaiḥ śaukairabhibhūyaṃte jarāmṛtyukṛtaiścānyairiti yastvetaiḥ || 95 ||
Bhṛgu said: Here it is taught that from falsehood (anṛta) indeed arises darkness (tamas); and those seized by that darkness follow only adharma, not dharma. Veiled by anger, greed, delusion, violence, falsehood, and the like, they attain happiness neither in this world nor in the next. They are scattered and afflicted by many diseases and pains; they are tormented by hardships such as killing, imprisonment, and other troubles, and by sufferings caused by hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. They are further distressed by bodily miseries and fears produced by rain, wind, excessive heat, and extreme cold; they are overwhelmed by mental sorrows born of the destruction of relatives and wealth and by separation; and also by other sufferings arising from old age and death.
Bhṛgu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It identifies falsehood (anṛta) as a root cause that generates tamas (spiritual darkness), which then drives a person into adharma and repeated suffering—bodily, mental, and social—blocking happiness here and hereafter.
By warning that tamas born of falsehood leads to anger, greed, and violence, the verse implies that inner purity and truthfulness are prerequisites for stable devotion—since a mind clouded by adharma cannot rest in sincere bhakti or attain lasting peace.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharmic discipline—especially satya (truthfulness) and control of krodha/lobha—which supports proper conduct in ritual life and ethical living emphasized across Vedic tradition.