Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
यः श्रृणोति महन्निन्दां सादरं तत्फलं श्रृणु । तेषां कर्णेषु दाप्यन्ते तप्तायः कीलसंचयाः ॥ ७७ ॥
yaḥ śrṛṇoti mahannindāṃ sādaraṃ tatphalaṃ śrṛṇu | teṣāṃ karṇeṣu dāpyante taptāyaḥ kīlasaṃcayāḥ || 77 ||
யார் கவனத்துடன் பெரும் பழிச்சொல்லைக் கேட்கிறாரோ, அதன் பலனை கேள்: அத்தகையோரின் காதுகளில் செந்நெருப்பாய் காய்ந்த இரும்புக் குத்தாணிகளின் கூட்டம் அடிக்கப்படுகிறது।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It warns that even passive participation—listening with interest to serious slander—creates heavy pāpa, showing that purity of hearing (śravaṇa) is a key limb of Dharma.
Bhakti is nurtured by śuddha-śravaṇa (pure hearing). This verse implies that indulging in nindā corrupts the mind and speech, obstructing remembrance and devotional hearing of Hari-kathā.
A practical takeaway aligned with Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-based discipline of speech is restraint in verbal exchange and attentive listening—avoiding nindā as part of sadācāra and dhārmic communication.