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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

असूयोपेतमनसां भक्तिदानादिकर्म्म यत् । अवेहि निष्फलं ब्रहंस्तेषां दूरतरो हरिः ॥ १४ ॥

asūyopetamanasāṃ bhaktidānādikarmma yat | avehi niṣphalaṃ brahaṃsteṣāṃ dūrataro hariḥ || 14 ||

おおブラーフマナよ、知れ。過失をあげつらう嫉み(アスーヤ)に心が満ちた者が行うバクティや布施(ダーナ)などの行為は、すべて果を結ばない。彼らにとってハリははるか遠い。

asūyopetamanasāmof those whose minds are filled with envy
asūyopetamanasām:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootasūyopetamanas (असूयोपेतमनस्)
FormGenitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)
bhaktidānādikarmaactions beginning with devotion and charity
bhaktidānādikarma:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhaktidānādikarman (भक्तिदानादिकर्मन्)
FormAccusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
yatwhich
yat:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (यद्)
FormRelative Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
avehiknow / understand
avehi:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rooti (इ) with ava (अव)
FormLot Lakara (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama Purusha (2nd Person), Ekavachana (Singular)
niṣphalamfruitless / useless
niṣphalam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniṣphala (निष्फल)
FormAccusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
brahanO Brahmin
brahan:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (ब्रह्मन्)
FormVocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)
teṣāmof them / for them
teṣām:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (तद्)
FormGenitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)
dūrataraḥfarther away / very distant
dūrataraḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdūratara (दूरतर)
FormComparative, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)
hariḥLord Hari
hariḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roothari (हरि)
FormNominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

H
Hari
V
Vishnu

FAQs

It teaches that inner disposition determines spiritual fruit: if the mind is tainted by asūyā (jealous fault-finding), even outwardly pious acts like devotion and charity fail to bring one closer to Hari.

Bhakti is not merely performance; it must be accompanied by a non-envious, non-derisive heart. When devotion is mixed with contempt for others, the relationship with Vishnu does not mature, and Hari remains ‘distant’.

The verse underscores ritual efficacy principles central to Dharma-śāstra and Kalpa (practical application of rites): intention and mental purity are prerequisites for karmic and spiritual results, not mere external correctness.