Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124
Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā
हानिद्वयेऽधिकाः कार्या यदा क्रूरस्तनौ तदा । विहायारीनंशाद्यैर्हन्यादायुर्लवान् भजेत् ॥ १२४ ॥
hānidvaye'dhikāḥ kāryā yadā krūrastanau tadā | vihāyārīnaṃśādyairhanyādāyurlavān bhajet || 124 ||
இருவகை இழப்பு நேர்ந்தால் குறைந்த இழப்பையே தேர்ந்தெடுக்க வேண்டும். மேலும் கொடிய பகைவன் தன் உடல்மேல் தாக்கினால், தயக்கம் விட்டு அத்தகைய பகைவர்களை முதலியவற்றை அழித்து ஆயுள்-பகுதியை காக்க வேண்டும்।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches dharmic discernment (viveka): when all options involve harm, one should choose the lesser harm, and preserving life in the face of a cruel aggressor can be a legitimate dharmic duty.
Bhakti is grounded in dharma; protecting one’s life and capacity for sādhana (practice) is presented as valid when threatened by cruelty, so devotion is supported by wise, duty-based action rather than passivity.
It reflects dharma-nīti reasoning used in smṛti-style decision rules (choosing the lesser harm), a practical framework often applied alongside śāstra interpretation (vyākaraṇa/nyāya-style clarity of meaning) rather than a ritual or astrology instruction.