Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas
शस्त्राजीवी भवेच्चैव पालयेद्धर्मतो महीम् । दुष्टानां शासनं कुर्य्याच्छिष्टानां पालनं तथा ॥ २४ ॥
śastrājīvī bhaveccaiva pālayeddharmato mahīm | duṣṭānāṃ śāsanaṃ kuryyācchiṣṭānāṃ pālanaṃ tathā || 24 ||
அவன் ஆயுதத் தொழிலால் வாழ்ந்து, தர்மப்படி பூமியைப் பாதுகாக்க வேண்டும். தீயவர்களைத் தண்டித்து, ஒழுக்கமுடைய நல்லவர்களை அதுபோலக் காக்க வேண்டும்.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on dharma)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It defines rāja-dharma as a sacred duty: the king’s power is legitimate only when used to uphold dharma—restraining harm through just punishment and sustaining order through protection of the righteous.
While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports bhakti by establishing a dharmic society where devotees and virtuous people can live safely and perform worship, vows, and discipline without oppression by the wicked.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is applied dharma—governance through śāsana (discipline/punishment) and pālana (protection) as a lawful, structured duty.