Shloka 37
Tithi-vicara
Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites
पूर्वविद्धां प्रकुर्वाणो नरो धर्मं निकृंतति । संततेस्तु विनाशाय संपदां हरणाय च ॥ ३७ ॥
pūrvaviddhāṃ prakurvāṇo naro dharmaṃ nikṛṃtati | saṃtatestu vināśāya saṃpadāṃ haraṇāya ca || 37 ||
ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਪੂਰਵਵਿੱਧ (ਦੋਸ਼ਯੁਕਤ/ਨਿੰਦਿਤ) ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਧਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਕੱਟ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ—ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਤਾਨ ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਧਨ-ਸੰਪਤੀ ਦੀ ਹਾਨੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
Narada (instructional voice, as preserved in the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_journey":"A stern ethical rebuke: knowingly doing blameworthy acts ‘cuts down’ dharma, leading to social and material ruin."}
FAQs
It warns that knowingly choosing a censured action is not a minor fault—it actively undermines dharma in one’s life, leading to karmic decline that manifests as loss of family well-being and prosperity.
Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense is supported by sadācāra (right conduct). This verse implies that devotion must be aligned with dharma; knowingly doing blameworthy acts weakens spiritual steadiness and the auspiciousness that supports devotion.
It reflects dharma-nīti grounded in śāstric discernment—knowing what is pūrvaviddha (scripturally censured) and avoiding it—an applied outcome of śāstra-study (including smṛti-based conduct rules rather than a specific Vedāṅga technique).