Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

अनृतं तद्धि विज्ञेयं सर्वश्रेयोविरोधि तत् । ये लोके द्वेषिणो मूर्खाः कुमार्गरतबुद्धयः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

anṛtaṃ taddhi vijñeyaṃ sarvaśreyovirodhi tat | ye loke dveṣiṇo mūrkhāḥ kumārgaratabuddhayaḥ || 28 ||

Translation

Know as falsehood that which obstructs every form of true welfare. In this world, those who are hateful, deluded, and whose minds delight in the wrong path are the very ones rooted in such untruth.

Word by Word

• अनृतम्: falsehood/untruth
• अनृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anuvrtti (अनुवृत्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphasis/causal

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Pratipadya/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/अनीयर्-भावे; here ‘-ेय’ gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be understood’

• सर्व-श्रेयः-विरोधि: opposed to all welfare
• सर्व-श्रेयः-विरोधि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वस्य श्रेयसः विरोधि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (qualifying अनृतम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• द्वेषिणः: haters
• द्वेषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• मूर्खाः: fools
• मूर्खाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• कुमार्ग-रत-बुद्धयः: those whose minds are attached to the wrong path
• कुमार्ग-रत-बुद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (कुमार्गे रता बुद्धिर्येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It defines “falsehood” not merely as incorrect speech, but as any attitude and conduct that blocks true well-being (śreyas), thereby hindering dharma and the soul’s upliftment.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti rests on purity of mind and right conduct; hatred and attachment to the wrong path are presented as inner untruths that obstruct śreyas, making devotion unstable and spiritually unfruitful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (satya and non-hatred) as a prerequisite for any Vedic practice—mantra, ritual, or study—to yield auspicious results.