Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

अन्येषां दोपजानेव धर्ममेवानुरुध्यते । न याच्ञा क्षत्रबंधूनां धर्मायैतत्सतां मतम् ॥ ८२ ॥

Transliteration

anyeṣāṃ dopajāneva dharmamevānurudhyate | na yācñā kṣatrabaṃdhūnāṃ dharmāyaitatsatāṃ matam || 82 ||

Translation

മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് ധർമ്മം രണ്ടാമത്തെ ലാഭംപോലെ പിന്തുടരപ്പെടുന്നു; എന്നാൽ സത്യക്ഷത്രിയർക്കു യാചന ധർമ്മസംരക്ഷണ മാർഗമല്ല—ഇതാണ് സജ്ജനന്മാരുടെ അഭിപ്രായം।

Word by Word

• anyeṣām: of others
• anyeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of others)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• doṣa-upajñā: by a lesson from fault
• doṣa-upajñā: Karana (करण/instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + upajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpurusha: 'instruction/lesson arising from fault'

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (उपमा-बोधक अव्यय)

• dharmaṃ: dharma/righteousness
• dharmaṃ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• anurudhyate: is followed/obeyed
• anurudhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√rudh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive-like sense 'is followed/obeyed'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• yācñā: begging/request
• yācñā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yācñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṣatra-bandhūnām: of (so-called) kṣatriya-kin
• kṣatra-bandhūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; tatpurusha: 'kinsmen/relatives of kṣatra' → 'kṣatriya-kin' (often pejorative: 'mere kṣatriya by name')

• dharmāya: for dharma
• dharmāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/for the sake of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता/apposition; 'this')
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• satām: of the virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of the good)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• matam: opinion/view
• matam: Karta (कर्ता/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mata (कृदन्त; √man/मन्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP (क्त) used as noun: 'opinion'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as integrity in one’s ordained duty (svadharma): the virtuous hold that sustaining righteousness must not be done through actions that contradict one’s role, such as a kṣatriya resorting to begging.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti through disciplined conduct: devotion is strengthened when one lives honestly and in harmony with dharma, avoiding degraded means of livelihood that weaken character and inner steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmaśāstra-based social ethics rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is role-based conduct (ācāra) and proper means of sustenance aligned with varṇa-dharma.