Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
हृताश्वं साधुभावेन बकवद्ध्य्नातत्परम् । सन्ति चाहो खला लोके कुर्वन्त्याडम्बरं महत् ॥ ९८ ॥
hṛtāśvaṃ sādhubhāvena bakavaddhynātatparam | santi cāho khalā loke kurvantyāḍambaraṃ mahat || 98 ||
സാധുഭാവം ധരിച്ചു അവൻ ഹൃതാശ്വനെ വഞ്ചിച്ചു; കൊക്കുപോലെ പുറമേ മാത്രം ധ്യാനപരനായതായി തോന്നി. അയ്യോ, ലോകത്തിൽ ദുഷ്ടർ ഭക്തിയുടെ പേരിൽ മഹാ ആഡംബരം നടത്തുന്നു।
Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It warns that external marks of holiness—posed meditation and a saintly facade—can be used to deceive; true dharma is measured by inner purity and conduct, not public display.
Bhakti requires sincerity (bhāva) and integrity; the verse critiques performative spirituality, implying that devotion is authentic when it transforms character rather than merely producing an impressive appearance.
It highlights ethical discernment used in dharma-practice—evaluating actions and character (ācāra) rather than relying on external signs; no specific Vedanga technicality (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught in this verse.