Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

असूयोपेतमनसां भक्तिदानादिकर्म्म यत् । अवेहि निष्फलं ब्रहंस्तेषां दूरतरो हरिः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

asūyopetamanasāṃ bhaktidānādikarmma yat | avehi niṣphalaṃ brahaṃsteṣāṃ dūrataro hariḥ || 14 ||

Translation

ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ଯାହାଙ୍କ ମନ ଦୋଷଦର୍ଶୀ ଅସୂୟାରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଭକ୍ତି, ଦାନ ଆଦି କର୍ମ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ; ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ହରି ଅତି ଦୂରେ ରହନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• asūyopetamanasām: of those whose minds are filled with envy
• asūyopetamanasām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asūyopetamanas (असूयोपेतमनस्)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• bhaktidānādikarma: actions beginning with devotion and charity
• bhaktidānādikarma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaktidānādikarman (भक्तिदानादिकर्मन्)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Relative Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• avehi: know / understand
• avehi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (इ) with ava (अव)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama Purusha (2nd Person), Ekavachana (Singular)

• niṣphalam: fruitless / useless
• niṣphalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (निष्फल)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• brahan: O Brahmin
• brahan: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्)
• Form: Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• teṣām: of them / for them
• teṣām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• dūrataraḥ: farther away / very distant
• dūrataraḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūratara (दूरतर)
• Form: Comparative, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• hariḥ: Lord Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner disposition determines spiritual fruit: if the mind is tainted by asūyā (jealous fault-finding), even outwardly pious acts like devotion and charity fail to bring one closer to Hari.

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

Bhakti is not merely performance; it must be accompanied by a non-envious, non-derisive heart. When devotion is mixed with contempt for others, the relationship with Vishnu does not mature, and Hari remains ‘distant’.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse underscores ritual efficacy principles central to Dharma-śāstra and Kalpa (practical application of rites): intention and mental purity are prerequisites for karmic and spiritual results, not mere external correctness.