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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

विद्याग्रहणशून्यत्वादधर्मो वर्तते पुनः । युत्क्रमेण प्रजाः सर्वा म्रियंते पापतत्पराः ॥ ३४ ॥

vidyāgrahaṇaśūnyatvādadharmo vartate punaḥ | yutkrameṇa prajāḥ sarvā mriyaṃte pāpatatparāḥ || 34 ||

真の知を受け取り育むことが失われるゆえ、アダルマは再びはびこる。やがて時の順に従い、罪に心を向けるがままに、あらゆる衆生は滅びへと至る。

विद्या-ग्रहण-शून्यत्वात्due to lack of learning
विद्या-ग्रहण-शून्यत्वात्:
Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् धातु) + शून्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त -त्व (state); समास-समाहार: ‘because of the state of being devoid of learning (of knowledge)’
अधर्मःunrighteousness
अधर्मः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
वर्ततेprevails/continues
वर्तते:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√वृत् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (again/further)
युत्-क्रमेणin due order/gradually
युत्-क्रमेण:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयुत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: युतः क्रमः (regular order) → ‘in due order’; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोग
प्रजाःcreatures/people
प्रजाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
सर्वाःall
सर्वाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रजाः)
म्रियन्तेdie
म्रियन्ते:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√मृ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद
पाप-तत्पराःintent on sin
पाप-तत्पराः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootपाप (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: पापे तत्पराः (devoted to sin)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a didactic dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

It teaches that the root of spiritual and social collapse is the absence of vidyā—when sacred learning is not received and practiced, adharma naturally dominates and beings suffer inevitable downfall.

By warning against ignorance and sinfulness, it indirectly supports bhakti: devotion thrives when one accepts right knowledge and discipline; without that grounding, the mind turns to pāpa and loses the capacity for steady devotion.

The verse emphasizes the necessity of vidyā-grahaṇa (systematic learning). Practically, this points to sustaining Vedāṅga-based study—especially Śikṣā (proper recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (clarity of meaning)—so dharma is understood and lived.