Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

सर्वलोकहितत्वं वै प्रोच्यते धर्मकोविदैः । इच्छानुवृत्तकथनं धर्माधर्माविवेकिनः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

sarvalokahitatvaṃ vai procyate dharmakovidaiḥ | icchānuvṛttakathanaṃ dharmādharmāvivekinaḥ || 27 ||

Translation

Les sages connaisseurs du Dharma déclarent que le vrai Dharma est ce qui favorise le bien de tous les mondes. Mais parler seulement selon ses désirs est la marque de celui qui ne distingue pas le Dharma de l’Adharma.

Word by Word

• सर्व-लोक-हितत्वम्: benefit/welfare of all worlds/people
• सर्व-लोक-हितत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + हितत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां लोकानां हितत्वम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphasis/assurance

• प्रोच्यते: is declared
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्म-कोविदैः: by those skilled in dharma
• धर्म-कोविदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मे कोविदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• इच्छा-अनुवृत्त-कथनम्: speech that follows (mere) desire
• इच्छा-अनुवृत्त-कथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• धर्म-अधर्म-अविवेकिनः: of one who lacks discernment between dharma and adharma
• धर्म-अधर्म-अविवेकिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अविवेकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्माधर्मयोः अविवेकिनः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive qualifier: ‘of one who…’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines Dharma by its universal benefit (sarva-loka-hita) and warns that desire-driven speech without discernment leads to Adharma, emphasizing viveka (discriminative wisdom) as a spiritual safeguard.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by dharmic intention and truthful, welfare-oriented conduct; the verse cautions devotees not to justify actions or teachings merely because they feel pleasing, but to align devotion with Dharma that benefits all.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights practical ethics of speech and discernment—principles closely tied to Vyakarana (disciplined, precise expression) and the broader dharmic application of correct teaching (upadesha) rather than desire-based rhetoric.