Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
तच्छुत्वोवाच भूपालं मुनिर्निःश्वस्य दुःखितः । आत्मानं गर्हयामास ह्यविवेकपरायणम् ॥ ३९ ॥
tacchutvovāca bhūpālaṃ munirniḥśvasya duḥkhitaḥ | ātmānaṃ garhayāmāsa hyavivekaparāyaṇam || 39 ||
అది విని ముని దుఃఖంతో నిట్టూర్చి రాజుతో పలికెను; అవివేకానికే ఆసక్తుడై ఉన్నందుకు తనను తానే గర్హించుకొనెను।
Muni (sage) addressing the king (Bhūpāla)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It highlights viveka (discernment) as a core spiritual faculty: when insight dawns, the wise feel remorse for earlier aviveka and turn inward to correct themselves before instructing others.
Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense is strengthened by discernment; the sage’s self-censure shows that devotion should be guided by clear understanding, not by impulsive or confused judgment.
The verse emphasizes ethical and mental discipline rather than a specific Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is the cultivation of viveka—an essential prerequisite for applying śāstric learning (like Vyākaraṇa or Kalpa) correctly.