Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

नित्यं निष्ठुरवक्ता च पापी वेश्यापरायणः । एवं स्थितः कियत्कालमनाहत्यं महदृचः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

nityaṃ niṣṭhuravaktā ca pāpī veśyāparāyaṇaḥ | evaṃ sthitaḥ kiyatkālamanāhatyaṃ mahadṛcaḥ || 31 ||

Translation

ସେ ସଦା କଠୋରବାକ୍, ପାପୀ ଓ ବେଶ୍ୟାସକ୍ତ ଥିଲା। ଏମିତି ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ରହି ମହାବିଧି (କର୍ମଫଳ)ର ପ୍ରହାର ବିନା ସେ କେତେଦିନ ଟିକିପାରିବ?

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always/constantly’

• निष्ठुर-वक्ता: a harsh speaker
• निष्ठुर-वक्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘harsh + speaker’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction): ‘and’

• पापी: a sinner
• पापी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘sinful person’

• वेश्या-परायणः: devoted to prostitutes
• वेश्या-परायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): ‘devoted to prostitutes’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक/adverb): ‘thus/in this way’

• स्थितः: remaining (so)
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘having remained/being’

• कियत्-कालम्: for how long
• कियत्-कालम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘how much + time’ = ‘for how long (time)’

• अनाहत्यम्: without harming
• अनाहत्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनाहत्य (अव्यय/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे/absolutive sense): ‘without striking/without harming’

• महत्-ऋचः: great hymns/verses
• महत्-ऋचः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘great + verses/hymns’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It warns that persistent cruelty in speech and indulgence in vice are not spiritually neutral—Dharma’s “great decree” (karma) inevitably ripens, urging immediate self-correction and purification.

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

Bhakti is supported by śuddhi (inner purity) and sāttvika conduct; harsh speech and uncontrolled sensuality obstruct remembrance of the Lord, so the verse motivates restraint and reform as a foundation for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā are indirectly implied through disciplined, truthful, non-hurtful speech—refining one’s words (vāk-saṃskāra) is treated as a practical ethical application of Vedic speech-culture.