Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

धर्माचारं परित्यज्य वृथावादैर्विषज्जिताः । द्विजाः कुर्वंति दंभार्थं पितृश्राद्धादिकाः क्रियाः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

dharmācāraṃ parityajya vṛthāvādairviṣajjitāḥ | dvijāḥ kurvaṃti daṃbhārthaṃ pitṛśrāddhādikāḥ kriyāḥ || 45 ||

Translation

தர்மநடத்தை விட்டு, வீண் பேச்சால் மாசடைந்து, சில இருபிறப்பினர் காட்சிக்காகவும் அகந்தைக்காகவும் பித்ரு-சிராத்தம் முதலிய கிரியைகளைச் செய்வர்।

Word by Word

• dharma-ācāram: dharma and proper conduct
• dharma-ācāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (dharmaś ca ācāraś ca) used as a single object

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययीभाववत्)

• vṛthā-vādaiḥ: with false talk
• vṛthā-vādaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (vṛthā eva vādaḥ = false/idle talk)

• viṣajjitāḥ: attached, clinging
• viṣajjitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√saj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kurvanti: they do/perform
• kurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• daṃbha-artham: for show, for hypocrisy
• daṃbha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃbha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (daṃbhasya arthaḥ = for the sake of hypocrisy/show); used adverbially (प्रयोजन)

• pitṛ-śrāddha-ādikāḥ: such as ancestral śrāddha
• pitṛ-śrāddha-ādikāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (pitṝṇāṃ śrāddham = ancestral śrāddha; ādi = etc.) qualifying kriyāḥ

• kriyāḥ: rites, actions
• kriyāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It warns that rituals without dharmic conduct and sincere intent become mere hypocrisy; spiritual merit depends on inner integrity, not public display.

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

By condemning ostentatious rites, it indirectly supports Bhakti’s emphasis on sincerity and purity of heart—devotion is not a performance but a truthful inner orientation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline (kalpa-related practice) by stressing that śrāddha and allied kriyās must be grounded in proper dharmācāra; otherwise the rite loses its intended efficacy.