Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

अल्पद्रव्या वृथालिंगा वृथाहंकारदूषिताः । हर्तारं परवित्तानां भवितारो नराधमाः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

alpadravyā vṛthāliṃgā vṛthāhaṃkāradūṣitāḥ | hartāraṃ paravittānāṃ bhavitāro narādhamāḥ || 61 ||

Translation

کم وسائل والے، جو بے فائدہ ظاہری نشان لگائے رکھتے ہیں اور کھوکھلے غرور سے آلودہ ہیں—ایسے ادنیٰ لوگ دوسروں کا مال چرانے والے چور بن جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• alpa-dravyāḥ: having little wealth
• alpa-dravyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival)

• vṛthā-liṅgāḥ: bearing marks in vain (false insignia)
• vṛthā-liṅgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; विशेषण

• vṛthā-ahaṃkāra-dūṣitāḥ: tainted by vain ego
• vṛthā-ahaṃkāra-dūṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dūṣita (कृदन्त; धातु √dūṣ (दूष्) + क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; विशेषण; dūṣita = past passive participle (क्त)

• hartāram: thief; one who steals
• hartāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु √hṛ (हृ) + तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• para-vittānām: of others' wealth
• para-vittānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• bhavitāraḥ: will become (such persons)
• bhavitāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavitṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु √bhū (भू) + तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• nara-adhamāḥ: lowest of men
• nara-adhamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It condemns hollow religiosity—external signs without inner discipline—showing that ego and hypocrisy degrade a person into adharma, even to the point of stealing.

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

It implies that genuine bhakti requires humility and integrity; mere sectarian marks or showy identity without character is ‘vṛthā’ (fruitless) and leads away from righteous living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a technical Vedanga lesson; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti: inner self-control and truthfulness must accompany any outward religious practice or ritual identity.