Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya
निन्दायां कलहे वापि ह्यसन्तः पाप्तात्पराः । पुराणेष्वर्थवादत्वं ये वदन्ति नराधमाः ॥ ५७ ॥
nindāyāṃ kalahe vāpi hyasantaḥ pāptātparāḥ | purāṇeṣvarthavādatvaṃ ye vadanti narādhamāḥ || 57 ||
Quienes se deleitan en la calumnia y la riña son verdaderamente malvados—peores que los pecadores. Y los más viles, que afirman que los Purāṇas son sólo arthavāda, mera alabanza vacía, quedan igualmente reprobados.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It protects śraddhā (faith) and dharma by condemning two root obstacles: harmful speech (slander and quarrel) and rejection of Purāṇic authority as “mere praise,” both of which block spiritual progress.
Bhakti requires humility, truthful speech, and reverence for Hari-centered śāstra; slander and dismissing Purāṇas as arthavāda undermine devotion by breeding ego, doubt, and disrespect toward sacred instruction.
The verse implicitly affirms scriptural interpretation principles: “arthavāda” is a technical Mīmāṃsā category, and misapplying it to dismiss Purāṇas is criticized—urging careful hermeneutics rather than hostile debate.