Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
आसीत्पुरा द्विजवरो ब्राह्मकल्पे महामतिः । दरिद्रो वृत्तिहीनश्च नाम्ना भद्रमतिर्बले ॥ ३९ ॥
āsītpurā dvijavaro brāhmakalpe mahāmatiḥ | daridro vṛttihīnaśca nāmnā bhadramatirbale || 39 ||
Pada zaman dahulu, di masa Brahmā-kalpa, hiduplah seorang brāhmaṇa dwija yang utama, berhikmah luhur; namun ia miskin dan tanpa penghidupan, dikenal bernama Bhadramati di negeri Bala.
Narada (narrative voice within the dialogue tradition, commonly framed as instruction to the Sanatkumāra tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes the moral setting for a Purāṇic teaching: even a wise and exemplary brāhmaṇa may face poverty due to prior karma, preparing the listener for a dharma- or vrata-based remedy that follows in the narrative.
This verse sets up the devotee’s predicament—lack of worldly support—commonly used in the Narada Purana to show that turning to Bhagavān (often Viṣṇu) through bhakti, vrata, and śraddhā becomes the transformative solution in the subsequent verses.
Indirectly, it points to dharmaśāstric concern with vṛtti (right livelihood) for a brāhmaṇa; the narrative typically proceeds to prescribe practical observances (vrata/ritual discipline) rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this specific line.