Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 152

Devanagari script

धर्मध्यायारिगो जीवादिकत्र्यारिगो विधोः । पृध्यंत्यधीतपाः सुज्ञा ततोवृद्ध्यंत्यबंधुराः ॥ १५२ ॥

Transliteration

dharmadhyāyārigo jīvādikatryārigo vidhoḥ | pṛdhyaṃtyadhītapāḥ sujñā tatovṛddhyaṃtyabaṃdhurāḥ || 152 ||

Translation

ଧର୍ମ ଓ ଧ୍ୟାନର ବିରୋଧୀ ଏବଂ ଜୀବହିଂସକ—ଏମିତି ପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ସୁଜ୍ଞ, ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ-ତପରେ ନିଷ୍ଠିତ ତପସ୍ବୀମାନେ ବାଦ କରନ୍ତି; ସେହି ବିବାଦରୁ ବନ୍ଧୁଭାବହୀନ କଳହପ୍ରିୟ ଲୋକମାନେ ମାତ୍ର ବଢ଼ିଯାନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• धर्म-ध्याय-अरि-गः: one who goes to the enemy of dharma/meditation (technical epithet)
• धर्म-ध्याय-अरि-गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मध्यायः + अरिः + गः)

• जीव-आदि-कत्र्य-अरि-गः: one who goes to the enemy of the ‘jīva etc.’ group (technical epithet)
• जीव-आदि-कत्र्य-अरि-गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कत्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जीवादिकत्र्यः + अरिः + गः)

• विधोः: of the Moon
• विधोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पृध्यन्ति: they contend/strive
• पृध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अधीत-पाः: the learned/studious ones
• अधीत-पाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) → अधीत (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त) + पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अधीतं पिबन्ति/पाः = ‘having studied/learned’)

• सु-ज्ञाः: the wise
• सु-ज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सुज्ञ = ‘well-knowing’)

• ततः: thereupon/then
• ततः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययप्रकारः—अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वृद्ध्यन्ति: they increase/grow
• वृद्ध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अ-बन्धुराः: not pleasant/inauspicious (lit. ‘not charming’)
• अ-बन्धुराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्ययः (a-/अ- = negation)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It warns that even learned ascetics can fall into fruitless disputation; true spiritual growth comes from Dharma, meditation, and non-harm—not from argumentative victory.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By implying that devotion to the Lord (Vishnu) is incompatible with hostility to Dharma, dhyāna, and living beings; bhakti matures through humility, ahiṃsā, and inner steadiness rather than quarrel.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly cautions against misusing śāstra-learning (supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Nyāya-style reasoning) for mere debate; study should serve dharma, meditation, and ethical conduct.