Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
स एव पापिनां श्रेष्ट आत्मघातं करोति च । अनित्यं प्राप्य मानुष्यं नित्यं यस्तु न साधयेत् ॥ ३२ ॥
sa eva pāpināṃ śreṣṭa ātmaghātaṃ karoti ca | anityaṃ prāpya mānuṣyaṃ nityaṃ yastu na sādhayet || 32 ||
Entre los pecadores, ése es el principal: en verdad se destruye a sí mismo, pues habiendo obtenido esta vida humana impermanente no se esfuerza por realizar lo Eterno.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It declares spiritual negligence to be a form of self-harm: human life is temporary, so failing to pursue the Eternal (nitya) wastes the rare opportunity for liberation.
By contrasting anitya and nitya, it urges sustained sadhana toward the Eternal—classically fulfilled through steadfast Vishnu-bhakti, remembrance, and disciplined living rather than mere worldly pursuit.
No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline (sadhana) and time-awareness—using human life purposefully rather than delaying practice.