Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

चौर्येण वा बलेनापि परस्वहरणं हि यत् । स्तेयमित्युच्यते सद्भिरस्तेयं तद्विपर्ययम् ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

cauryeṇa vā balenāpi parasvaharaṇaṃ hi yat | steyamityucyate sadbhirasteyaṃ tadviparyayam || 78 ||

Translation

ଚୋରିରେ ହେଉ କି ବଳପ୍ରୟୋଗରେ, ପରଧନ ହରଣକୁ ସଜ୍ଜନମାନେ ‘ସ୍ତେୟ’ କହନ୍ତି; ତାହାର ବିପରୀତ ‘ଅସ୍ତେୟ’।

Word by Word

• चौर्येण: by theft; through stealing
• चौर्येण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative: “or”)

• बलेन: by force
• बलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: also/even)

• परस्वहरणम्: taking away another’s property
• परस्वहरणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic as defined term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-स्व-हरण (प्रातिपदिक; हृ धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: परस्य स्वम् (others’ property) + हरणम् (taking)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of emphasis/indeed)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun: “that which”)

• स्तेयम्: theft (as a sin/act)
• स्तेयम्: प्रत्यय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive: “by…”)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: प्रत्यय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विपर्ययम्: opposite; reverse
• विपर्ययम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-explanatory context within Book 1.1)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It grounds spiritual life in dharma by defining theft precisely: taking what belongs to another—secretly or by force—violates righteous conduct, while asteya is the deliberate restraint that supports inner purity.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by ethical discipline; asteya prevents greed and harm, making the mind steadier and more sattvic, which is considered favorable for sincere remembrance and worship of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily dharma-nīti (ethical instruction) rather than a Vedanga; practically, it clarifies conduct for daily life—do not appropriate others’ wealth by deception or coercion.