Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

पुण्यक्षेत्राभिगमनं पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणम् । यज्ञो वा विविधो ब्रह्मंस्त्यक्ताचारंन रक्षति ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

puṇyakṣetrābhigamanaṃ puṇyatīrthaniṣevaṇam | yajño vā vividho brahmaṃstyaktācāraṃna rakṣati || 26 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ! ಪುಣ್ಯಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುವುದು, ಪುಣ್ಯತೀರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ಸೇವಿಸುವುದು, ಅಥವಾ ವಿಧವಿಧ ಯಜ್ಞಗಳೂ—ಆಚಾರವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿದವನನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

• पुण्य-क्षेत्र-अभिगमनम्: going to holy places
• पुण्य-क्षेत्र-अभिगमनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यक्षेत्राभिगमन (प्रातिपदिक) = पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘going to holy places’

• पुण्य-तीर्थ-निषेवणम्: resorting to sacred pilgrim-places
• पुण्य-तीर्थ-निषेवणम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवण (प्रातिपदिक) = पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + निषेवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘resorting to holy tīrthas’

• यज्ञः: sacrifice
• यज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• विविधः: various
• विविधः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies यज्ञः)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

• त्यक्त-आचारम्: one who has abandoned proper conduct
• त्यक्त-आचारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्ताचार (प्रातिपदिक) = त्यक्त (कृदन्त; √त्यज् (धातु) + क्त) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘one who has abandoned conduct’

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• रक्षति: protects/saves
• रक्षति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सकर्मक: ‘protects/saves’

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the dharma-ācāra dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It asserts that external religious merit—pilgrimage, sacred-site visits, and even yajñas—cannot “save” a person if they have abandoned ācāra; inner ethical discipline is treated as the non-negotiable base of Dharma.

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

It implies that devotion is not validated by outward acts alone; bhakti must be supported by sadācāra (truthfulness, restraint, purity), otherwise even sacred practices become spiritually ineffective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual performance (yajña) is implicitly referenced in a way aligned with Kalpa (the Vedāṅga of ritual procedure): correct ritual action without correct conduct is incomplete and fails to yield protective spiritual fruit.