Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
आदेशी वेदविक्रेता पञ्चैते ब्रह्मधातकाः । ब्रह्मणं यः समाहूय दास्यामीति धनादिकम् । एश्चान्नास्तीति यो ब्रुयात्तमाहुर्ब्रह्यघातिनम् ॥ २४ ॥
ādeśī vedavikretā pañcaite brahmadhātakāḥ | brahmaṇaṃ yaḥ samāhūya dāsyāmīti dhanādikam | eścānnāstīti yo bruyāttamāhurbrahyaghātinam || 24 ||
आदेशी (लाभासाठी अधिकाराने आदेश देणारा) आणि वेदविक्रेता—हे पाचही ‘ब्रह्मधातक’ म्हणतात. जो ब्राह्मणाला बोलावून ‘धन इत्यादी देईन’ असे सांगून नंतर ‘काही नाही’ असे म्हणतो—तो ब्रह्मघाती ठरतो.
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in a Dharma-śāstra style passage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It warns that commodifying sacred knowledge (selling the Veda) and deceiving a Brahmin with false promises of gifts are grave violations that destroy brahminical sanctity (brahma-dharma) and generate heavy pāpa.
Bhakti is grounded in truthfulness and reverence for dharma; exploiting religion for profit or practicing deceit undermines purity of heart, which is essential for sincere devotion and worship.
It implicitly protects śruti and its proper transmission: Vedic learning must be preserved through disciplined teaching (adhyāpana) and right conduct, not through commercial sale or manipulative religious brokerage.