Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्ताश्च प्रयान्ति परमं पदम् । अनाथं विप्रकुणपं ये दहेयुर्नृपोत्तम ॥ १२० ॥
pratigrahanivṛttāśca prayānti paramaṃ padam | anāthaṃ viprakuṇapaṃ ye daheyurnṛpottama || 120 ||
Mereka yang menahan diri dari menerima hadiah yang menodai dharma mencapai kedudukan tertinggi. Wahai raja terbaik, mereka yang mengkremasi jenazah brāhmaṇa yang tak berpenuntut pun mencapai keadaan luhur.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that two dharmic acts—avoiding ethically compromising gifts and performing compassionate last rites for an unclaimed brāhmaṇa—purify one’s conduct and lead toward the supreme state (paramaṁ padam).
By emphasizing purity, compassion, and integrity as supports for spiritual life; such sattvic conduct is presented as conducive to the highest goal, aligning with the Purana’s broader ethic that devotion thrives on dharma.
Ritual practice related to antyeṣṭi (funeral rites): cremation (dahana) is affirmed as a meritorious duty even when the deceased is unclaimed, reflecting applied dharma and ritual procedure.