Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy
Transition to Vedānta Inquiry
यः कश्चिदपि पुण्यात्मा क्रियायोगरतो भवेत् । नरं धर्मरतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वेऽसूयां प्रकुर्वते ॥ २३ ॥
yaḥ kaścidapi puṇyātmā kriyāyogarato bhavet | naraṃ dharmarataṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve'sūyāṃ prakurvate || 23 ||
ഏതൊരു പുണ്യാത്മാവും ക്രിയായോഗത്തിൽ നിരതനായിരുന്നാലും, ധർമ്മരതനായ മനുഷ്യനെ കണ്ടാൽ എല്ലാവരും അസൂയയോടെ കുറ്റം ചുമത്തുന്നു॥
Narada (instructional narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It warns that envy (asūyā) can arise even in religious circles; therefore a practitioner should remain steady in dharma and not measure spiritual worth by public approval.
Bhakti and dharma-centered living often attract scrutiny; the verse implies that true devotion is proven by steadiness and humility despite others’ jealousy or disparagement.
It is primarily an ethical teaching rather than a Vedanga technical point; it supports disciplined conduct in practice (kriyā) by cautioning against asūyā, a major obstacle to spiritual life.