Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

पिशुनो धर्मविद्वेषी देवद्रव्यापहारकः । गोध्नश्च ब्रह्महा चौरः सर्वप्राणिवधे रतः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

piśuno dharmavidveṣī devadravyāpahārakaḥ | godhnaśca brahmahā cauraḥ sarvaprāṇivadhe rataḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Ia adalah pemfitnah, pembenci dharma, perampas harta persembahan bagi para dewa; pembunuh sapi, pembunuh brāhmaṇa, pencuri, dan orang yang gemar membunuh semua makhluk hidup.

Word by Word

• piśunaḥ: malicious, slanderous
• piśunaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piśuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); predicate adjective of implied ‘aham’

• dharma-vidveṣī: hater of righteousness
• dharma-vidveṣī: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidveṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘hater of dharma’

• deva-dravya-apahārakaḥ: stealer of temple/god’s property
• deva-dravya-apahārakaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘stealer of deity’s property’

• go-hnā: cow-killer
• go-hnā: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु) → ghnā/hnā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); upapada-kr̥danta (agent noun) ‘cow-killer’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction

• brahma-hā: slayer of a Brahmin
• brahma-hā: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु) → hā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); upapada-kr̥danta agent noun: ‘slayer of a brāhmaṇa’

• cauraḥ: thief
• cauraḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• sarva-prāṇi-vadhe: in killing all creatures
• sarva-prāṇi-vadhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘in the killing of all living beings’

• rataḥ: engaged, delighting
• rataḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); kta from ram (धातु)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a dharma-oriented discourse; dialogue context traditionally with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It identifies a cluster of gravely adharmic actions—slander, hatred of dharma, stealing sacred property, and violence—as spiritually corrosive, because they destroy truthfulness, reverence, and compassion, which are foundations for purification and higher devotion.

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

Bhakti requires inner purity and respect for the divine; stealing devadravya and harming beings contradict service (sevā) and compassion. The verse functions as a moral boundary: devotion is not merely ritual, but a life aligned with dharma and non-injury.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Dharma-śāstra style ethical classification (rather than a technical Vedāṅga): it reflects the practical rule that sacred/temple property (devadravya) is inviolable and that ahimsa is a key discipline supporting ritual purity and spiritual progress.