Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
सत्यहीनं यथा वाक्यं साधुहीना यथा सभा । तपो यथा दयाहीनं तथा पित्रा विनार्भकः ॥ २३ ॥
satyahīnaṃ yathā vākyaṃ sādhuhīnā yathā sabhā | tapo yathā dayāhīnaṃ tathā pitrā vinārbhakaḥ || 23 ||
సత్యం లేని మాట వ్యర్థమైనట్లే, సద్జనులు లేని సభ శూన్యమైనట్లే; దయలేని తపస్సు ఫలహీనమైనట్లే—తండ్రి లేని బాలుడు కూడా వంచితుడు।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue of Book 1.1)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that inner virtues are the measure of spiritual worth: truth gives value to speech, saintly presence gives purity to society, and compassion gives fruit to austerity—without these, outward forms become empty.
Bhakti in the Narada Purana is supported by satya and dayā and is nourished in sādhu-saṅga; the verse implies that devotion must be truthful, compassionate, and guided by the company of the virtuous rather than mere external practice.
It highlights nīti (ethical discernment) applied to dharma: evaluating speech, assemblies, and tapas by their essential qualities (truth, saintliness, compassion) rather than by outward appearance—useful for guiding conduct alongside śāstric study.