Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
पिशुना जिह्वया पूर्वं परुषं प्रवदन्ति च । अतीव करुणं वाक्यं वदन्त्येव तथाबलाः ॥ ४७ ॥
piśunā jihvayā pūrvaṃ paruṣaṃ pravadanti ca | atīva karuṇaṃ vākyaṃ vadantyeva tathābalāḥ || 47 ||
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਜੀਭ ਨਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕਠੋਰ ਬੋਲ ਬੋਲਣ ਵਾਲੇ, ਫਿਰ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਸੁਭਾਉ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਕਰੁਣ ਲੱਗਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵੀ ਕਹਿ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
Nārada (teaching the Sanatkumāra brothers in an ethical instruction context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It exposes hypocrisy in speech—harshness followed by feigned compassion—and teaches that true dharma requires purity and consistency of intention, not merely sweet-sounding words.
Bhakti is sustained by humility and non-injury; controlling slander and harsh speech protects devotion from aparādha (offenses) and keeps one’s mind fit for nāma-japa and remembrance of the Lord.
It aligns with Śikṣā (discipline of sound/speech) in a practical sense: speech must be disciplined, measured, and truthful—avoiding pāruṣya (cruel speech) and paiśunya (slander).