Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

अवज्ञानमहंकारो दंभश्चैव विगर्हितः । अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोदं सर्वाश्रमगतं तपः ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

avajñānamahaṃkāro daṃbhaścaiva vigarhitaḥ | ahiṃsā satyamakrodaṃ sarvāśramagataṃ tapaḥ || 116 ||

Translation

Ang paghamak, pagmamataas ng ego (ahaṃkāra), at pagkukunwari (dambha) ay tunay na sinisisi. Ang ahimsa, katotohanan, at kawalan ng galit—ito ang tapas na angkop sa lahat ng āśrama.

Word by Word

• अवज्ञानम्: disrespect/contempt
• अवज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहंकारः: egoism/pride
• अहंकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दंभः: hypocrisy/pretence
• दंभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle/emphasis: indeed)

• विगर्हितः: is condemned
• विगर्हितः: Vidhaya/Predicate (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त; √गर्ह् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अक्रोधम्: absence of anger
• अक्रोधम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-आश्रम-गतम्: present in all stages of life
• सर्व-आश्रम-गतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आश्रम + गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु; components: सर्व + आश्रम + गत)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle in adjectival use), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (in all āśramas)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It defines true tapas as inner ethical discipline—non-violence, truth, and angerlessness—while rejecting the spiritual obstacles of contempt, ego, and hypocrisy.

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

Bhakti is supported by purity of conduct: humility (no avajñā/ahaṃkāra), sincerity (no dambha), and compassionate truthfulness (ahiṃsā-satya-akrodha), which make devotion steady and non-performative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), the verse stresses sādhāraṇa-dharma—universal duties taught in dharma literature—as the practical discipline valid for every āśrama.