Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62
Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions
शूद्रतुल्यः स विज्ञेयो नरकस्य प्रियोऽतिथिः । अनधीतश्रुतिर्विप्र आचार प्रतिपद्यते ॥ ६२ ॥
śūdratulyaḥ sa vijñeyo narakasya priyo'tithiḥ | anadhītaśrutirvipra ācāra pratipadyate || 62 ||
जिस ब्राह्मण ने श्रुति का अध्ययन नहीं किया, वह शूद्रतुल्य—नरक का प्रिय अतिथि—समझा जाए। फिर भी वह आचार का बाह्य रूप धारण करता है॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It asserts that spiritual authority and dharmic status depend on actual engagement with Śruti (Vedic revelation), not birth or outward etiquette; neglect of Vedic learning leads one toward adharma and painful afterlife consequences.
Indirectly, it sets a prerequisite for authentic religious life: devotion and practice must be grounded in scriptural hearing and study; without śāstric foundation, even “pious” behavior becomes hollow and spiritually unfruitful.
The verse highlights the primacy of Śruti-study, which in practice relies on Vedāṅga supports such as Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to learn, preserve, and correctly understand Vedic teaching.