Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

ते राजन्दुर्ज्जना ज्ञेयाः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृताः । धर्माधर्मविवेकेन वेदमार्गानुसारिणः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

te rājandurjjanā jñeyāḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtāḥ | dharmādharmavivekena vedamārgānusāriṇaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

O King, know them to be wicked—cast outside all dharma; though they speak of discerning dharma from adharma, they merely claim to follow the Vedic path.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• दुर्जनाः: wicked people
• दुर्जनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, विधेय/gerundive)
• Form: कृदन्तः (तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे विधेयः), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; ‘ज्ञातव्याः’ = to be known

• सर्व-धर्म-बहिष्कृताः: excluded from all dharmas
• सर्व-धर्म-बहिष्कृताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of दुर्जनाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + बहिष्कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle) ‘बहिष्कृत’ = excluded; समासः: सर्वेषां धर्माणां बहिष्कृताः

• धर्म-अधर्म-विवेकेन: by discernment of dharma and adharma
• धर्म-अधर्म-विवेकेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; समासः: धर्मश्च अधर्मश्च (द्वन्द्व) + विवेकः (तत्पुरुष-भावः)

• वेद-मार्ग-अनुसारिणः: followers of the Vedic path
• वेद-मार्ग-अनुसारिणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of दुर्जनाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘अनुसारिन्’ = follower; समासः: वेदस्य मार्गस्य अनुसारिणः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It warns that outward claims of being “Vedic” are meaningless without living dharma; hypocrisy that rejects righteous conduct is itself a mark of adharma.

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

Bhakti in the Narada Purana is grounded in sincerity and righteous living; this verse rejects performative religiosity and implies that devotion must align with dharma, not mere labels.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is viveka (discernment) applied to conduct—using Vedic standards to distinguish dharma from adharma—rather than relying only on textual learning or ritual identity.