Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

धर्मविक्रयिणो विप्राः स्त्रियश्च भगविक्रयाः । वेदविक्रयकाश्चान्ये शूद्राचाररता द्विजाः ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

dharmavikrayiṇo viprāḥ striyaśca bhagavikrayāḥ | vedavikrayakāścānye śūdrācāraratā dvijāḥ || 43 ||

Translation

బ్రాహ్మణులు ధర్మాన్ని అమ్మేవారవుతారు; స్త్రీలు దేహవిక్రయానికి దిగుతారు; మరికొందరు వేదాన్ని అమ్ముతారు; ద్విజులు శూద్రాచారంలో రమిస్తారు।

Word by Word

• dharma-vikrayiṇaḥ: selling dharma
• dharma-vikrayiṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrayin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (dharmasya vikrayiṇaḥ = sellers of dharma)

• viprāḥ: Brahmins
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• bhaga-vikrayāḥ: selling sexual favors
• bhaga-vikrayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक) + vikraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (bhagasya vikrayāḥ = selling sexual favors)

• veda-vikrayakāḥ: (those) selling the Veda
• veda-vikrayakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrayaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (vedasya vikrayakāḥ = sellers of the Veda)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śūdra-ācāra-ratāḥ: devoted to śūdra practices
• śūdra-ācāra-ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त, √ram)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śūdrāṇām ācāre ratāḥ = devoted to śūdra conduct)

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It warns that in times of dharma-decline, sacred duties and knowledge get commercialized, and social conduct falls away from sadācāra—urging a return to integrity, restraint, and authentic dharma.

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

By criticizing transactional religion, it implies that true bhakti is not for profit or display; devotion must be sincere, rooted in purity of conduct and reverence for sacred teachings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores ethical transmission of Vedic learning (connected with śikṣā and vyākaraṇa as disciplines supporting recitation and study) and cautions against turning Veda-teaching into mere commerce divorced from dharma.