Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65
Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy
Transition to Vedānta Inquiry
सप्तवर्षाष्टवर्षाश्च युवानोऽतः परे जरा । स्वकर्मत्यागिनः सर्वे कृतघ्नाभिन्नवृत्तयः ॥ ६५ ॥
saptavarṣāṣṭavarṣāśca yuvāno'taḥ pare jarā | svakarmatyāginaḥ sarve kṛtaghnābhinnavṛttayaḥ || 65 ||
కొంతమంది ఏడు-ఎనిమిది సంవత్సరాలవారు, మరికొందరు యువకులు, ఆపై వెంటనే వృద్ధులు. అందరూ తమ స్వకర్మ-స్వధర్మాన్ని విడిచిపెడతారు; కృతఘ్నులు, చిత్తచంచలమైన విభిన్న ప్రవర్తన కలవారవుతారు।
Narada (as part of the Purva-bhaga instruction narrative; dialogue tradition commonly frames teachings via Narada and the Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It portrays a dharmic collapse across all ages—children, youth, and the elderly—highlighting that spiritual decline is marked by abandonment of svadharma, ingratitude, and unstable conduct; it implicitly urges restoration of righteous living as the basis for inner purification.
By diagnosing the moral confusion of the age (tyāga of proper duties and kṛtaghnatā), the verse sets the need for a steady refuge; Narada Purana typically presents Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined conduct as stabilizing forces that re-align one’s life with dharma.
The verse chiefly emphasizes dharma and ācāra (right conduct) rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it supports the Vedanga-informed idea of living by prescribed duties (svakarma) and consistent discipline, which underlies correct ritual and ethical practice.