Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

असूयोपेतमनसां दम्भाचारवतां तथा । परुषोक्तिरतानां च सुखं नेह परत्र च ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

asūyopetamanasāṃ dambhācāravatāṃ tathā | paruṣoktiratānāṃ ca sukhaṃ neha paratra ca || 18 ||

Translation

ଯାହାଙ୍କ ମନ ଅସୂୟାରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ଯେମାନେ ଦମ୍ଭାଚାର କରନ୍ତି ଓ କଠୋର କଥାରେ ରତ—ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନ ଇହଲୋକରେ ସୁଖ, ନ ପରଲୋକରେ।

Word by Word

• असूया-उपेत-मनसाम्: of those with envy-filled minds
• असूया-उपेत-मनसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असूया (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (उप + इ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those whose minds are accompanied by envy’

• दम्भ-आचार-वताम्: of those with hypocritical conduct
• दम्भ-आचार-वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those having hypocritical conduct’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तुल्यत्वबोधक (adverb: likewise)

• परुष-उक्ति-रतानाम्: of those fond of harsh words
• परुष-उक्ति-रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of those devoted to harsh speech’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate/subject)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: here/in this world)

• परत्र: hereafter/there
• परत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: there/in the next world)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that inner vices—envy, hypocrisy, and cruel speech—destroy both worldly peace and post-death welfare, making them direct obstacles to Dharma and spiritual uplift.

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

Bhakti requires a purified heart and truthful, gentle conduct; envy and harsh speech agitate the mind and create offenses, undermining steadiness in devotion and reverence toward others.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga passage, it supports the practical discipline of right speech (vāg-niyama) central to Sadācāra and necessary for mantra-japa and ritual purity in Vedic practice.