Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

अवज्ञानमहंकारो दंभश्चैव विगर्हितः । अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोदं सर्वाश्रमगतं तपः ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

avajñānamahaṃkāro daṃbhaścaiva vigarhitaḥ | ahiṃsā satyamakrodaṃ sarvāśramagataṃ tapaḥ || 116 ||

Translation

Презрение, самомнение (ахамкара) и лицемерие (дамбха) поистине порицаются. Ненасилие, правдивость и отсутствие гнева — такова аскеза (тапас), общая для всех ашрамов.

Word by Word

• अवज्ञानम्: disrespect/contempt
• अवज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहंकारः: egoism/pride
• अहंकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दंभः: hypocrisy/pretence
• दंभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle/emphasis: indeed)

• विगर्हितः: is condemned
• विगर्हितः: Vidhaya/Predicate (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त; √गर्ह् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अक्रोधम्: absence of anger
• अक्रोधम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-आश्रम-गतम्: present in all stages of life
• सर्व-आश्रम-गतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आश्रम + गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु; components: सर्व + आश्रम + गत)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle in adjectival use), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (in all āśramas)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It defines true tapas as inner ethical discipline—non-violence, truth, and angerlessness—while rejecting the spiritual obstacles of contempt, ego, and hypocrisy.

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

Bhakti is supported by purity of conduct: humility (no avajñā/ahaṃkāra), sincerity (no dambha), and compassionate truthfulness (ahiṃsā-satya-akrodha), which make devotion steady and non-performative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), the verse stresses sādhāraṇa-dharma—universal duties taught in dharma literature—as the practical discipline valid for every āśrama.