Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
एश्वर्यमदमत्तानां क्षुधितानां च कामिनाम् । अहंकारविमूढानां विवेको नैव जायते ॥ १०३ ॥
eśvaryamadamattānāṃ kṣudhitānāṃ ca kāminām | ahaṃkāravimūḍhānāṃ viveko naiva jāyate || 103 ||
ऐश्वर्यमदमत्यानां क्षुधार्तानां च कामिनाम् । अहंकारविमूढानां विवेको नोपजायते ॥
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It identifies three major inner pressures—pride from prosperity, compulsive appetite, and lust—along with ego-delusion as direct obstacles to viveka (right spiritual discernment), without which liberation-oriented dharma cannot mature.
Bhakti requires humility and clarity of heart; this verse shows that ego and desire-clouding prevent true discernment, implying that devotion to Vishnu must be supported by self-restraint and surrender rather than pride or sense-compulsion.
The practical takeaway aligns with disciplined conduct taught across śāstra: regulate food and senses (āhāra-niyama, indriya-nigraha) and reduce ego to protect viveka—foundational for applying Vedic study (including Vyakarana-based clarity of meaning) toward moksha.