Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

देवापूजापरान्दृष्ट्वा मात्सर्याद्योऽर्चयेद्धीरम् । सा भक्तिः पृथिवीपाल तामसी चोत्तमा स्मृता ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

devāpūjāparāndṛṣṭvā mātsaryādyo'rcayeddhīram | sā bhaktiḥ pṛthivīpāla tāmasī cottamā smṛtā || 142 ||

Translation

Voyant d’autres voués au culte du Seigneur, celui qui, par jalousie, rend hommage au ferme (dévot), cette dévotion, ô protecteur de la terre, est tenue pour tāmasī, née du tamas.

Word by Word

• देवापूजापरान्: those devoted to worship of the gods
• देवापूजापरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + पूजा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (देवपूजायां पराः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘दृष्ट्वा’ के कर्म (object seen)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मात्सर्यात्: out of envy
• मात्सर्यात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/हेतु), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• यः: he who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: would worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• धीरम्: the steadfast one (the Lord)
• धीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (विष्णु/भगवत् इत्यर्थे)

• सा: that (devotion)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृथिवीपाल: O protector of the earth (king)
• पृथिवीपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पृथिव्याः पालः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तामसी: tamasic
• तामसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘bhaktiḥ’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• उत्तमा: excellent, highest
• उत्तमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘bhaktiḥ’)

• स्मृता: is considered/remembered (as)
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate: ‘is considered’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing a king as 'pṛthivīpāla')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the Lord)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It classifies devotion by inner motive: worship arising from jealousy (mātsarya) is labeled tāmasī, showing that intention—not mere outward ritual—determines spiritual quality.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

It warns that bhakti should be rooted in reverence and purity; imitating worship only because others are devoted, and doing so with envy, keeps the heart in tamas and blocks genuine devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is dharma-application in ritual life—examining one’s bhāva (inner disposition) before pūjā so that worship aligns with sattva rather than tamas.