Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
धर्मराज उवाच । श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्मं वर्णानामनुपूर्वशः । प्रब्रवीमि नृपश्रेष्ट तं श्रृणुष्व समाहितः ॥ १ ॥
dharmarāja uvāca | śrutismṛtyuditaṃ dharmaṃ varṇānāmanupūrvaśaḥ | prabravīmi nṛpaśreṣṭa taṃ śrṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ || 1 ||
Dharmarāja dit : « Ô meilleur des rois, je vais maintenant exposer, dans l’ordre convenable, le dharma des varṇa (classes) tel qu’il est enseigné dans la Śruti et la Smṛti. Écoute avec l’esprit recueilli. »
Dharmarāja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It establishes dharma as grounded in Śruti and Smṛti and frames the teaching as an ordered, disciplined instruction—requiring mental composure to understand and apply righteous duty.
While not explicitly teaching bhakti here, it sets the dharmic foundation that supports devotional life—right conduct and attentive listening are presented as prerequisites for higher spiritual practice.
The verse emphasizes scriptural authority and orderly exposition (anupūrvaśaḥ), aligning with the Vedāṅga spirit of systematic learning—especially the disciplined study-method implied by careful listening and structured teaching.