Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
नारद उवाच । कथितो भवता सम्यग्वर्णाश्रमविधिर्मुने । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि यममार्गं सुदुर्गमम् ॥ १ ॥
nārada uvāca | kathito bhavatā samyagvarṇāśramavidhirmune | idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi yamamārgaṃ sudurgamam || 1 ||
Nārada disse: “Ó sábio, explicaste com clareza as devidas ordenanças de varṇa e āśrama. Agora desejo ouvir sobre o caminho de Yama, a estrada extremamente difícil de percorrer.”
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
This verse marks a transition from social–religious duty (varṇa–āśrama dharma) to the consequences after death, introducing the teaching on Yama’s difficult post-mortem path and the need for right conduct and higher spiritual refuge.
While bhakti is not named here, Narada’s inquiry sets up the contrast between mere external dharma and the deeper spiritual protection traditionally taught in the Purana—where devotion and remembrance of the Divine are presented as safeguards amid the terrors of Yama’s route.
The verse does not directly teach a Vedāṅga; it references varṇa–āśrama ‘vidhi’ (injunctions), implying the importance of dharma grounded in śāstric rules and correct understanding of prescribed duties.