Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
यद्यत्पापतरं तत्तत्किमर्थं चरितं जनाः । कृतवंतः पुरा पापान्यत्यंतहर्षिताः ॥ ४६ ॥
yadyatpāpataraṃ tattatkimarthaṃ caritaṃ janāḥ | kṛtavaṃtaḥ purā pāpānyatyaṃtaharṣitāḥ || 46 ||
ജനങ്ങൾ കൂടുതൽ പാപകരമായ—അതിപാപമായ—പ്രവൃത്തികളേ എന്തിന് ചെയ്യുന്നു? മുമ്പും അവർ പാപങ്ങൾ ചെയ്തു, അതും അത്യന്തം ആനന്ദത്തോടെ.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It highlights the paradox of human conduct: due to ingrained tendencies (pāpa-vāsanā) and delusion, people not only fall into sin but can even take pleasure in it—prompting the need for dharma, self-restraint, and purification.
By exposing attraction to pāpa as a core obstacle, the verse implicitly points toward bhakti as a purifier of desire—redirecting delight from wrongdoing to remembrance, praise, and service of Bhagavān.
It chiefly teaches ethical discernment rather than a technical Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway aligns with dharma-śāstra style discipline—examining motives, restraining harmful impulses, and cultivating sattva through regulated conduct.