Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation
भूतानामपरः कश्चिद्धिंसायां सततोत्थितः । वंचनायां च लोकेषु ससुखेष्वेव जीयते ॥ २४ ॥
bhūtānāmaparaḥ kaściddhiṃsāyāṃ satatotthitaḥ | vaṃcanāyāṃ ca lokeṣu sasukheṣveva jīyate || 24 ||
またある者は、衆生を害し世の人を欺くことに常に心を起こしながらも、なお快楽の中に生きているかのように見えることがある。
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It highlights a common illusion: a person devoted to violence and deceit may seem to prosper, but such “pleasure” is merely worldly appearance and stands opposed to Moksha-Dharma.
Bhakti rests on purity of conduct—truthfulness, compassion, and non-injury. By contrasting these with himsa and deception, the verse implies that apparent enjoyment gained through adharma obstructs a heart fit for devotion.
The practical takeaway is ethical discipline (sadācāra) as a prerequisite for mantra, ritual, and study—without truthfulness and non-violence, Vedic practice becomes hollow and spiritually unproductive.