Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42
Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
संपद्यते चेन्मरणं निमित्तेनैव लिप्यते । मूर्च्छितः पतितो वापि दण्डेनाभिहतस्ततः ॥ ४२ ॥
saṃpadyate cenmaraṇaṃ nimittenaiva lipyate | mūrcchitaḥ patito vāpi daṇḍenābhihatastataḥ || 42 ||
Si la mort survient, la responsabilité n’est consignée qu’en fonction de la cause immédiate. Même si la personne n’était que sans connaissance, était tombée, ou fut ensuite frappée d’un bâton, l’imputation se fait selon cette circonstance précise qui a déclenché l’issue.
Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada, judicial-dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It stresses dharma-based discernment: karmic and social responsibility are assessed by the true proximate cause (nimitta), not by confusion or assumptions—encouraging truthful judgment and restraint.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti as integrity in conduct: a devotee aligns with dharma by judging fairly, avoiding false blame, and acting without cruelty—ethical clarity becomes a limb of devotional life.
Nyāya-like reasoning and dharma-vicāra (analysis of cause and effect) are emphasized—how to determine the operative cause (nimitta) when assigning fault or prescribing expiation.