Shloka 41

Devanagari script

धिक् त्वां धर्मक्षयकरं स्ववचोलोपकारकम् । म्लेच्छेष्वपि न दृश्येत त्वादृशो धर्मलोपकः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

dhik tvāṃ dharmakṣayakaraṃ svavacolopakārakam | mleccheṣvapi na dṛśyeta tvādṛśo dharmalopakaḥ || 41 ||

Translation

धिक् त्वां धर्मक्षयकरं स्ववचोलोपकारकम्; म्लेच्छेष्वपि न दृश्येत त्वादृशो धर्मलोपकः॥

Word by Word

धिक्shame/fie

त्वाम्you

धर्मक्षयकरम्causing the ruin of dharma

स्ववचोलोपकारकम्one who makes his own words fail/breaks his word

म्लेच्छेषुamong barbarians/mlecchas

अपिeven

नnot

दृश्येतwould be seen

त्वादृशःa person like you

धर्मलोपकःdestroyer of dharma

Speaker

Unspecified speaker in the provided excerpt (likely a rebuke within the Adhyaya’s narrative dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_journey":"From moral outrage to a climactic condemnation: the addressee is branded a destroyer of dharma and worse than even the stereotyped ‘mleccha’ outsider."}

FAQs

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

It condemns dharma-kṣaya—actions and speech that erode righteousness—teaching that breaking one’s word and undermining dharma is spiritually disgraceful and socially corrosive.

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

Bhakti rests on integrity and satya; devotion without truthful conduct becomes hollow. The verse warns that dharma-lopa (ruining dharma) blocks the purity required for sincere worship and pilgrimage merits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa/śabda-dharma in practice: speech (vāc) must be reliable. The verse emphasizes vow-keeping and truthful utterance—key disciplines supporting ritual efficacy and dharmic living.