Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

कामक्रोधविहीनैश्च धर्मशास्त्रविशारदैः । प्रष्टव्या ब्राह्मणा धर्मं सर्वधर्मफलेच्छुभिः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

kāmakrodhavihīnaiśca dharmaśāstraviśāradaiḥ | praṣṭavyā brāhmaṇā dharmaṃ sarvadharmaphalecchubhiḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Ceux qui sont exempts de désir et de colère, et versés dans les śāstra du dharma : de tels brāhmaṇa doivent être approchés et interrogés sur le dharma par quiconque recherche les fruits de tous les devoirs justes.

Word by Word

• काम-क्रोध-विहीनैः: by those free from desire and anger
• काम-क्रोध-विहीनैः: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakārī (सहकारी) qualifying the agents who should ask
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (कृदन्त; √हा, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘काम-क्रोध’ इति द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative) + ‘विहीन’ इति क्त-कृदन्त; समस्तपदं तृतीया बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• धर्म-शास्त्र-विशारदैः: by those skilled in the scriptures of dharma
• धर्म-शास्त्र-विशारदैः: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakārī (सहकारी) qualifying the agents who should ask
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (धर्मशास्त्रे विशारदाः = expert in dharma-śāstra)

• प्रष्टव्याः: should be asked
• प्रष्टव्याः: Kriyā (क्रिया) (obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + √पृच्छ् (धातु), तव्यत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative) = ‘should be asked’; कर्मणि-भाव (passive obligation)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karma (कर्म) of ‘प्रष्टव्याः’ (those to be asked)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Viṣaya/Karma (विषय/कर्म) of asking (what is to be asked about)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सर्व-धर्म-फल-इच्छुभिः: by those desiring the fruits of all dharmas
• सर्व-धर्म-फल-इच्छुभिः: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakārī (सहकारी) qualifying the agents who should ask
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (सर्वधर्माणां फलम् इच्छन्ति ये)

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within the Narada Purana’s dharma-teachings context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that Dharma is best understood by approaching teachers who have inner purity (freedom from desire and anger) along with scriptural mastery, ensuring guidance is both authentic and unbiased.

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

By emphasizing purity from kama and krodha and reliance on true scriptural guides, it supports Bhakti indirectly: devotion matures under self-control and correct instruction rather than impulse or ego-driven counsel.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the practical necessity of Śāstra-competence—especially Dharmaśāstra application (smṛti-based conduct and ritual propriety)—as the basis for reliable instruction, even when specific Vedangas are not named.