Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

यः कश्चिदपि पुण्यात्मा क्रियायोगरतो भवेत् । नरं धर्मरतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वेऽसूयां प्रकुर्वते ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścidapi puṇyātmā kriyāyogarato bhavet | naraṃ dharmarataṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve'sūyāṃ prakurvate || 23 ||

Translation

Ainda que alguém seja virtuoso e dedicado ao kriyā-yoga, ao ver um homem firme no dharma, as pessoas tendem a entregar-se à inveja e à caça de defeitos.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• कश्चित्: someone/anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); अनिश्चितार्थक

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle)

• पुण्यात्मा: a virtuous-souled person
• पुण्यात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); बहुव्रीहिः: ‘पुण्यः आत्मा यस्य सः’

• क्रिया-योग-रतः: devoted to the discipline of rites/practice
• क्रिया-योग-रतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला: ‘क्रियायोगे रतः’ (locative relation)

• भवेत्: may be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपदम्

• नरम्: a man/person
• नरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• धर्म-रतम्: devoted to dharma
• धर्म-रतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः: ‘धर्मे रतः’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen’

• सर्वे: all (people)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.)

• असूयाम्: envy/resentment
• असूयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रकुर्वते: practice/produce (envy)
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl.); आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It warns that envy (asūyā) can arise even in religious circles; therefore a practitioner should remain steady in dharma and not measure spiritual worth by public approval.

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

Bhakti and dharma-centered living often attract scrutiny; the verse implies that true devotion is proven by steadiness and humility despite others’ jealousy or disparagement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It is primarily an ethical teaching rather than a Vedanga technical point; it supports disciplined conduct in practice (kriyā) by cautioning against asūyā, a major obstacle to spiritual life.