Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
एकतो भयभीतस्य प्राणिनः प्राणरक्षणम् । संरक्षति महीपाल यो विप्रं भयविह्वलम् ॥ ८९ ॥
ekato bhayabhītasya prāṇinaḥ prāṇarakṣaṇam | saṃrakṣati mahīpāla yo vipraṃ bhayavihvalam || 89 ||
ഒരു വശത്ത് ഇത് ഭയത്തിൽ വിറയ്ക്കുന്ന ജീവിയുടെ പ്രാണരക്ഷയ്ക്ക് തുല്യം; അതുപോലെ ഭയവിഹ്വലനായ ബ്രാഹ്മണനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്ന രാജാവ് പ്രാണത്തെയേ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നു।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It equates offering protection to a fear-stricken Brahmin with saving life itself, presenting protection (rakṣā) as a direct act of dharma that preserves prāṇa and earns great merit.
By framing protection of the vulnerable as sacred service, it supports bhakti as lived reverence—honoring dharma and the Lord’s order through compassionate action, especially toward those devoted to Vedic life.
No specific Vedanga is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmaśāstric—royal responsibility (rājadharma) to grant refuge and protection, especially to vipras who uphold Vedic learning and rites.