Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61
Hanūmaccarita
The Account of Hanumān
कर्दमं काष्ठदंडं च भुक्त्वा पीत्वाथ हर्षितः । एतादृशो मुनिरसौ चंडालसदृशाकृतिः ॥ ६१ ॥
kardamaṃ kāṣṭhadaṃḍaṃ ca bhuktvā pītvātha harṣitaḥ | etādṛśo munirasau caṃḍālasadṛśākṛtiḥ || 61 ||
ചെളിയും മരദണ്ഡവും വരെ ഭക്ഷിച്ച്, പിന്നെ അതു കുടിച്ചിട്ടും അവൻ ആനന്ദിച്ചു. അങ്ങനെയായിരുന്നു ആ മുനി—ചണ്ഡാലനെപ്പോലെയുള്ള രൂപമുള്ളവൻ.
Narada (narrating to Sanatkumara and the Kumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It warns that when inner discipline collapses, even one called a “sage” can fall into degrading behavior—outer status cannot substitute for purity, restraint, and true dharma.
By implication, it contrasts genuine spiritual life with mere appearance: bhakti and sādhanā require sāttvika conduct and humility; without inner devotion and self-control, one may become spiritually and socially degraded.
The takeaway is ethical: Vedāṅga learning (like Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā) is meant to be supported by sadācāra and restraint—knowledge without character leads to downfall.