Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
प्रतिश्रुत्याप्रदानेन लालाभक्षं व्रजेन्नरः । यतिनिन्दापरो राजन् शिलानमात्रे प्रयाति हि ॥ १२४ ॥
pratiśrutyāpradānena lālābhakṣaṃ vrajennaraḥ | yatinindāparo rājan śilānamātre prayāti hi || 124 ||
ผู้ใดให้คำมั่นแล้วไม่ให้ ย่อมตกสู่ภาวะต้องกินน้ำลายเป็นอาหาร ส่วนผู้หมกมุ่นในการกล่าวร้ายยติ โอ้พระราชา ย่อมถูกทิ้งให้เป็นดุจหินเท่านั้น
Narada (addressing a King as part of Dharma instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
The verse ranks ethical integrity as a core dharma: breaking a pledged gift (apradāna after pratiśruti) and abusing renunciants (yati-nindā) generate severe karmic downfall, warning that speech and conduct toward dharma and its guardians directly shape one’s future state.
Bhakti is inseparable from humility and reverence; slandering yatis—who embody restraint and devotion—undermines devotion itself. The verse implies that honoring the devout and keeping one’s vowed offerings supports a sattvic, Vishnu-aligned life, while contempt and deceit obstruct spiritual progress.
It highlights dharma-nīti rather than a technical Vedanga: the practical rule is to keep one’s vowed or promised dāna precisely as spoken, since verbal commitment (vāṅ-niyama) has binding karmic force in śāstric ethics.