Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

यद्याश्रयेद्दिजो मूढस्तदा चांडासतां व्रजेत् । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां त्रयाणां मुनिसत्तम ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

yadyāśrayeddijo mūḍhastadā cāṃḍāsatāṃ vrajet | brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ trayāṇāṃ munisattama || 32 ||

Translation

If a deluded dvija takes shelter in an unworthy support, he then falls into the state of a caṇḍāla. O best of sages, this is said with reference to the three varṇas—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe avyaya (conditional particle/शर्त)

• āśrayet: should resort to
• āśrayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mūḍhaḥ: deluded/foolish
• mūḍhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying ‘dvijaḥ’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb/काल)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (and)

• cāṇḍāla-satām: the state of being a Caṇḍāla
• cāṇḍāla-satām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāṇḍāla (प्रातिपदिक) + satā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (satā), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘the condition/state of a cāṇḍāla’

• vrajet: would go/should fall into
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas
• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक) + viś (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; itaretara-dvandva: ‘of Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas’

• trayāṇām: of the three
• trayāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective referring to the three (varṇas)

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘best of sages’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It warns that spiritual and social decline follows when a dvija relies on an unworthy refuge—wrong guidance, corrupt patrons, or adharmic authority—causing a fall from dharmic status and conduct.

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

By implication, bhakti requires right āśraya—taking shelter of dharma, sādhus, and ultimately the Lord—rather than depending on adharmic supports that derail purity and practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects smṛti-style dharma reasoning used alongside Kalpa (ritual/duty frameworks): correct eligibility, conduct, and association determine the fruit of one’s varna-based responsibilities.