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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

इत्येतैः कर्मभिर्व्याप्ता द्विजा वर्णान्तरं गताः । ब्राह्मणा धर्मतन्त्रस्थास्तपस्तेषां न नश्यति ॥ ६० ॥

ityetaiḥ karmabhirvyāptā dvijā varṇāntaraṃ gatāḥ | brāhmaṇā dharmatantrasthāstapasteṣāṃ na naśyati || 60 ||

ഇത്തരം കര്‍മങ്ങളില്‍ മുഴുകിയ ദ്വിജര്‍ മറ്റൊരു വര്‍ണത്തിലേക്ക് വഴുതിപ്പോകുന്നു; എന്നാല്‍ ധര്‍മതന്ത്രത്തില്‍ സ്ഥാപിതരായ ബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ തപസ് നശിക്കുകയില്ല।

itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)
etaiḥby these
etaiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन) — pronoun used adjectivally
karmabhiḥby actions/rites
karmabhiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
vyāptāḥpervaded/affected
vyāptāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-āp (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
FormPast passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
dvijāḥtwice-born (Brahmins etc.)
dvijāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
varṇa-antaramanother varṇa/class
varṇa-antaram:
Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
TypeNoun
Rootvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (varṇasya antaram)
gatāḥhave gone/attained
gatāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootgam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
FormPast participle used predicatively (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
brāhmaṇāḥBrahmins
brāhmaṇāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootbrāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
dharma-tantra-sthāḥabiding in the system of dharma
dharma-tantra-sthāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of brāhmaṇāḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (dharma-tantre sthāḥ)
tapaḥausterity/penance
tapaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Roottapas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
teṣāmof them
teṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)
naśyatiperishes/is destroyed
naśyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootnaś (धातु)
FormLat-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Sanatkumara (in dialogue teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

D
Dvija
B
Brahmana
D
Dharma
T
Tapas
V
Varna

FAQs

It stresses that mere engagement in actions can pull a person away from their dharmic station, while steadfastness in dharma preserves tapas—inner spiritual power that supports liberation-oriented life (Moksha-Dharma).

While not naming bhakti directly, it supports bhakti’s foundation: disciplined dharma and purified conduct. When actions are aligned with dharma-tantra, spiritual strength is protected, making devotion stable rather than distracted by worldly karma.

The verse points to applied Dharma-śāstra reasoning—proper performance and orientation of karma (ritual/acts) so that one’s tapas and eligibility (adhikāra) are not diminished; it is a practical takeaway for ritual ethics and right conduct.