Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73
Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya
मृषा श्रृणोति यो मूढो दम्भी भक्तिविवर्जितः । सोऽपि तद्वन्महाघोरे नरके पच्यतेऽक्षये ॥ ७२ ॥
mṛṣā śrṛṇoti yo mūḍho dambhī bhaktivivarjitaḥ | so'pi tadvanmahāghore narake pacyate'kṣaye || 72 ||
यो मूढो दम्भी भक्तिविवर्जितो मृषा शृणोति, सोऽपि तद्वत् महाघोरेऽक्षये नरके पच्यते।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It warns that merely hearing sacred teachings is not meritorious if done with deceit or hypocrisy; inner sincerity and devotion are essential, otherwise the act becomes a cause of grave demerit.
Bhakti is presented as an inner quality (bhakti-vivarjitaḥ is condemned): without genuine devotion and honest receptivity, outward religious behavior—like listening to Dharma—turns into dambha and leads to downfall.
No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline in śravaṇa—listening with truthfulness and humility rather than performance.