Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

आत्मनस्तु समुत्कर्षादतिनिष्ठुरभाषणम् । क्रोधमाहुर्धर्मविदो ह्यक्रोधस्तद्विपर्ययः ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

ātmanastu samutkarṣādatiniṣṭhurabhāṣaṇam | krodhamāhurdharmavido hyakrodhastadviparyayaḥ || 84 ||

Translation

ತನ್ನನ್ನು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮುವ ಅತಿನಿಷ್ಠುರ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಧರ್ಮವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರು ‘ಕ್ರೋಧ’ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಅದರ ವಿರುದ್ಧವೇ ‘ಅಕ್ರೋಧ’।

Word by Word

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) adversative/emphatic ‘but/indeed’

• samutkarṣāt: from (a sense of) self-exaltation
• samutkarṣāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samutkarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• ati-niṣṭhura-bhāṣaṇam: very harsh speaking
• ati-niṣṭhura-bhāṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता) / Lakṣya-nirdeśa (लक्षणनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + niṣṭhura (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘ati-niṣṭhuraṃ bhāṣaṇam’ (very harsh speech)

• krodham: anger
• krodham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• āhuḥ: they say/call
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन)

• dharma-vidaḥ: knowers of dharma
• dharma-vidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘dharmam vidanti’ (knowers of dharma)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘indeed/for’

• akrodhaḥ: non-anger
• akrodhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Viśeṣya-nirdeśa (विशेष्यनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular

• tat-viparyayaḥ: its opposite
• tat-viparyayaḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): ‘tasya viparyayaḥ’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and self-restraint)

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 defines anger not only as an inner emotion but as ego-born harsh speech; spiritual progress requires akrodha—restraint that protects dharma by purifying one’s words and intent.

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

Bhakti is sustained by humility and gentle speech; ego-driven harshness disrupts devotion and relationships, while akrodha supports a sattvic mind fit for remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline of speech (vāg-niyama), a foundational support for mantra-japa and ritual purity.