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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

परनिंदापरो नित्यं जन्तूपद्रवकृत्तथा । हतवान्ब्राह्मणान् गाश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ २० ॥

paraniṃdāparo nityaṃ jantūpadravakṛttathā | hatavānbrāhmaṇān gāśca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ || 20 ||

स नित्यं परनिन्दापरः, जन्तूनामुपद्रवकर्ता च। ब्राह्मणान् गाश्च शतशः सहस्रशश्च हतवान्॥

परनिन्दापरःintent on others’ slander
परनिन्दापरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर + निन्दा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: परनिन्दा + पर (तत्पुरुष; 'devoted to slandering others'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्रियाविशेषणरूपेण प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial accusative)
जन्तूपद्रवकृत्causing trouble to beings
जन्तूपद्रवकृत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootजन्तु + उपद्रव + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: जन्तूनाम् उपद्रवः + कृत् (तत्पुरुष; 'one who causes harm to creatures'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तथाlikewise; also
तथा:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)
हतवान्having killed; killed
हतवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (धातु) → हतवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्तवत्)
Formक्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (perfective past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (finite sense: 'killed')
ब्राह्मणान्Brahmins
ब्राह्मणान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural
गाःcows
गाः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगो (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
शतशःby hundreds; hundreds of times
शतशः:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशतशस् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकार/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb)
अथthen; and
अथ:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तरार्थक/आरम्भक-निपात (particle: then/and)
सहस्रशःby thousands
सहस्रशः:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
Formपरिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a moral-exhortative narrative context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

B
Brahmana
G
Go (cow)

FAQs

It identifies core forms of adharma—slander (paranindā), cruelty to beings, and grave violence like brahma-hatyā and go-hatyā—highlighting how such actions create severe pāpa and obstruct spiritual progress.

By contrast: bhakti is sustained by purity of speech and compassion; the verse shows that malicious speech and violence are direct impediments to a devotional life oriented toward inner purification and dharmic conduct.

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—truthful, non-harmful speech and ahiṃsā—serving as a foundational prerequisite for any ritual or scriptural practice.