Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

असूयोपेतमनसां दम्भाचारवतां तथा । परुषोक्तिरतानां च सुखं नेह परत्र च ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

asūyopetamanasāṃ dambhācāravatāṃ tathā | paruṣoktiratānāṃ ca sukhaṃ neha paratra ca || 18 ||

Translation

For those whose minds are filled with envy, who live by hypocrisy and pretence, and who delight in harsh speech—there is happiness neither in this world nor in the world beyond.

Word by Word

• असूया-उपेत-मनसाम्: of those with envy-filled minds
• असूया-उपेत-मनसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असूया (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (उप + इ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those whose minds are accompanied by envy’

• दम्भ-आचार-वताम्: of those with hypocritical conduct
• दम्भ-आचार-वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those having hypocritical conduct’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तुल्यत्वबोधक (adverb: likewise)

• परुष-उक्ति-रतानाम्: of those fond of harsh words
• परुष-उक्ति-रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those devoted to harsh speech’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate/subject)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: here/in this world)

• परत्र: hereafter/there
• परत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: there/in the next world)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that inner vices—envy, hypocrisy, and cruel speech—destroy both worldly peace and post-death welfare, making them direct obstacles to Dharma and spiritual uplift.

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

Bhakti requires a purified heart and truthful, gentle conduct; envy and harsh speech agitate the mind and create offenses, undermining steadiness in devotion and reverence toward others.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga passage, it supports the practical discipline of right speech (vāg-niyama) central to Sadācāra and necessary for mantra-japa and ritual purity in Vedic practice.