Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

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

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

अल्पद्रव्या वृथालिंगा वृथाहंकारदूषिताः । हर्तारं परवित्तानां भवितारो नराधमाः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

alpadravyā vṛthāliṃgā vṛthāhaṃkāradūṣitāḥ | hartāraṃ paravittānāṃ bhavitāro narādhamāḥ || 61 ||

Translation

அற்பச் செல்வமுடையோர், வீணாக வெளிப்புறச் சின்னங்களைத் தரிப்போர், வெற்றுக் களிப்பான அகங்காரத்தால் மாசுபட்டோர்—இத்தகைய நராதமர் பிறருடைய செல்வத்தைப் பறிக்கும் திருடர்களாவர்।

Word by Word

• alpa-dravyāḥ: having little wealth
• alpa-dravyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival)

• vṛthā-liṅgāḥ: bearing marks in vain (false insignia)
• vṛthā-liṅgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; विशेषण

• vṛthā-ahaṃkāra-dūṣitāḥ: tainted by vain ego
• vṛthā-ahaṃkāra-dūṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dūṣita (कृदन्त; धातु √dūṣ (दूष्) + क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; विशेषण; dūṣita = past passive participle (क्त)

• hartāram: thief; one who steals
• hartāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु √hṛ (हृ) + तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• para-vittānām: of others' wealth
• para-vittānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• bhavitāraḥ: will become (such persons)
• bhavitāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavitṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु √bhū (भू) + तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• nara-adhamāḥ: lowest of men
• nara-adhamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It condemns hollow religiosity—external signs without inner discipline—showing that ego and hypocrisy degrade a person into adharma, even to the point of stealing.

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

It implies that genuine bhakti requires humility and integrity; mere sectarian marks or showy identity without character is ‘vṛthā’ (fruitless) and leads away from righteous living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a technical Vedanga lesson; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti: inner self-control and truthfulness must accompany any outward religious practice or ritual identity.