Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
शब्दोद्रेकादिकान्धर्मान्करोति हि यथा बुधः । तथात्मा प्रकृतेः संगादहंमानादिदूषितः ॥ ९९ ॥
śabdodrekādikāndharmānkaroti hi yathā budhaḥ | tathātmā prakṛteḥ saṃgādahaṃmānādidūṣitaḥ || 99 ||
Just as a learned person produces (or adopts) modes of conduct such as heightened speech and the like, so too the Self—through association with Prakṛti—becomes tainted by egoism (ahaṃkāra), pride, and related faults.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches that the Self is intrinsically pure, yet appears stained due to association with material nature (Prakṛti), which manifests as ego, pride, and other defects—pointing to detachment as a key to liberation.
By identifying ego and pride as impurities born of Prakṛti-association, it implies that Bhakti must be practiced with humility and surrender; devotion becomes purified when the “I” and “mine” notions are reduced.
It indirectly cautions about disciplined speech (śabda) and conduct—useful for Śikṣā (phonetics/training of speech) and Vyākaraṇa (refined language use)—since “excess speech” is shown as a detectable behavioral distortion tied to ego.