Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 150
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
अहो दरिद्रता दुःखं तत्राप्याशातिदुःखदा । आशाभिभूताः पुरुषा दुःखमश्नुवतेऽक्षयम् ॥ १५० ॥
aho daridratā duḥkhaṃ tatrāpyāśātiduḥkhadā | āśābhibhūtāḥ puruṣā duḥkhamaśnuvate'kṣayam || 150 ||
Alas—poverty is suffering; and even there, hope itself becomes an even greater giver of pain. Overpowered by hope, people come to experience unending sorrow.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies āśā (restless expectation) as a deeper root of duḥkha than external lack, urging vairāgya and contentment so the mind is not trapped in “unending” sorrow.
By warning against worldly expectation, it implicitly redirects hope toward the Divine—steadfast bhakti replaces anxious craving with surrender (śaraṇāgati) and inner steadiness.
No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-psychological discipline—checking desire (kāma) and expectation (āśā) as part of dhārmic self-regulation.