Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41
The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents
Anukramaṇī
न दांभिकाय पापाय देवगुर्वनुसूयवे । देयं कदापि साधूनां द्वेषिणे न शठाय च ॥ ४१ ॥
na dāṃbhikāya pāpāya devagurvanusūyave | deyaṃ kadāpi sādhūnāṃ dveṣiṇe na śaṭhāya ca || 41 ||
Qu’on ne donne jamais l’aumône sacrée ni l’enseignement au fourbe hypocrite, au pécheur, ni à celui qui est hostile aux devas et à son guru; qu’on ne le donne pas non plus à l’ennemi des saints ni au trompeur.
Narada (teaching within a didactic passage, traditionally framed in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that sacred giving (dāna) and transmission of dharma must be protected by discernment; offering it to hypocritical, sinful, or deceitful people—especially those hostile to deva and guru—undermines the sanctity and intended spiritual fruit (puṇya) of the act.
Bhakti is safeguarded by reverence to deva and guru and by honoring sādhus; the verse warns that those who hate sādhus or envy deva-guru are unfit recipients, because such attitudes oppose the humility and respect that sustain devotional life.
It reflects dharma-prayoga (practical application of scriptural conduct) relevant to ritual life: proper pātra-viveka (discernment of a qualified recipient) in dāna, a key procedural principle used across smārta and purāṇic ritual guidance.