Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

यः स्वाचारपरिभ्रष्टः साङ्गवेदान्तगोऽपि वा । स एव पतितो ज्ञेयो यतः कर्मबहिष्कृतः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ svācāraparibhraṣṭaḥ sāṅgavedāntago'pi vā | sa eva patito jñeyo yataḥ karmabahiṣkṛtaḥ || 23 ||

Translation

Celui qui s’est écarté de sa juste conduite (svācāra), fût-il maître du Vedānta avec toutes ses disciplines auxiliaires, doit être tenu pour « déchu » ; car il est exclu des actes et rites védiques.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svācāraparibhraṣṭaḥ: fallen from one's own conduct
• svācāraparibhraṣṭaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svācāraparibhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāṅgavedāntagaḥ: knower of Vedanta along with Angas
• sāṅgavedāntagaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṅgavedāntaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• api: even/also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• vā: or
• vā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Disjunction)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis)

• patitaḥ: fallen/outcaste
• patitaḥ: Visheshana (Predicate Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta Pratyaya (Past Passive Participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• jñeyaḥ: should be known/considered
• jñeyaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा)
• Form: Yat Pratyaya (Gerundive), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• yataḥ: because/since
• yataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• karmabahiṣkṛtaḥ: excluded from religious rites
• karmabahiṣkṛtaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karmabahiṣkṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Adhyaya’s dharma-teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It asserts that spiritual learning (even Vedānta with Vedāṅgas) is not sufficient without sadācāra; ethical conduct is the gatekeeper of dharma and spiritual credibility.

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

By implying that inner devotion must be supported by outward purity and discipline; a devotee’s conduct safeguards sincerity and prevents religion from becoming mere display of learning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It references the Vedāṅgas collectively (śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, chandas, nirukta, jyotiṣa, kalpa), stressing that technical mastery does not override the basic requirement of dharmic conduct for performing Vedic karma.