Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

क्रोधाञ्च धर्मनाशः स्याद्धर्मनाशान्मतिभ्रमः । प्रनष्टबुद्धिर्मनुजः पुनः पापं करोति च ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

krodhāñca dharmanāśaḥ syāddharmanāśānmatibhramaḥ | pranaṣṭabuddhirmanujaḥ punaḥ pāpaṃ karoti ca || 5 ||

Translation

ಕ್ರೋಧದಿಂದ ಧರ್ಮನಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ; ಧರ್ಮನಾಶದಿಂದ ಮತಿ ಭ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಬುದ್ಧಿ ನಷ್ಟವಾದ ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಪಾಪವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Apadana/Source (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय — Conjunction/particle

• धर्मनाशः: destruction of dharma
• धर्मनाशः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य नाशः)

• स्यात्: would occur
• स्यात्: Kriya/Verb (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (लिङ्-लकार), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• धर्मनाशात्: from the destruction of dharma
• धर्मनाशात्: Apadana/Source (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य नाशात्)

• मतिभ्रमः: confusion of intellect
• मतिभ्रमः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मतेः भ्रमः)

• प्रनष्टबुद्धिः: whose intellect is ruined
• प्रनष्टबुद्धिः: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नश् (धातु) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; नष्ट (क्त-कृदन्त) + बुद्धि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Bahuvrīhi adjective, Masculine, Nominative, Singular (one whose intellect is ruined)

• मनुजः: a man, human
• मनुजः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — Indeclinable adverb

• पापम्: sin, evil
• पापम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• करोति: does, commits
• करोति: Kriya/Verb (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय — Conjunction/particle

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It presents a clear causal chain: anger erodes dharma, dharma-loss clouds discernment, and deluded intellect repeats sinful karma—showing why inner restraint is essential for spiritual progress.

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

Bhakti requires steadiness of mind and purity of conduct; this verse warns that anger destabilizes dharma and buddhi, undermining the devotional temperament needed for sustained Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-sadhana—cultivating self-control and clarity of buddhi as a prerequisite for correct application of Vedic duties and vows.