Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44
Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy
Transition to Vedānta Inquiry
साधूनां विधवानां च वित्तान्यपहरंति च । न व्रतानि चरिष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणा द्रव्यलोलुपाः ॥ ४४ ॥
sādhūnāṃ vidhavānāṃ ca vittānyapaharaṃti ca | na vratāni cariṣyanti brāhmaṇā dravyalolupāḥ || 44 ||
അവർ സത്സജന്മാരുടെയും വിധവകളുടെയും ധനവും കവർന്നെടുക്കും; ധനലോഭികളായ ബ്രാഹ്മണർ വ്രതങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുകയില്ല।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It condemns adharma born from greed—especially when those expected to uphold dharma exploit the vulnerable—showing that loss of vrata-discipline is a clear sign of spiritual decline.
Bhakti requires inner purity and compassion; this verse highlights that covetousness and harming sādhus and widows directly contradict the devotional virtues that sustain sincere worship and vrata-based devotion.
The verse is primarily dharma-oriented rather than Vedanga-technical; its practical takeaway is correct application of ritual life (vrata) grounded in ethics—without moral restraint, rites become empty or abandoned.