Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

जनानां बकवृतीनां न ब्रूयादिदमुत्तमम् । त्यक्तकामादिदोषाणां विष्णुभक्तिरतात्मनाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

janānāṃ bakavṛtīnāṃ na brūyādidamuttamam | tyaktakāmādidoṣāṇāṃ viṣṇubhaktiratātmanām || 49 ||

Translation

此无上教法，不应对披着伪善外衣之人宣说；它是为那些已舍离欲等过失、其心安住于对毗湿奴之奉爱（bhakti）者而设。

Word by Word

• जनानाम्: of people
• जनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बक-वृत्तीनाम्: of those with crane-like conduct (hypocrites)
• बक-वृत्तीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (बकवृत्तिः येषाम्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ब्रूयात्: should speak/tell
• ब्रूयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इदम् इति पदस्य विशेषण

• त्यक्त-काम-आदि-दोषाणाम्: of those who have abandoned faults like desire
• त्यक्त-काम-आदि-दोषाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (त्यक्ताः कामादिदोषाः येषाम्)

• विष्णु-भक्ति-रत-आत्मनाम्: of those whose minds delight in devotion to Vishnu
• विष्णु-भक्ति-रत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (विष्णुभक्तौ रतः आत्मा येषाम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It sets the rule of adhikara (fitness): the highest devotional instruction is to be shared only with sincere seekers who have renounced inner defects like lust, not with hypocrites who merely display outward religiosity.

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

Bhakti is portrayed as an inner absorption in Vishnu that requires purification—giving up kama and related doṣas—so devotion is not performative but rooted in transformed character.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is the dharmic principle of confidential instruction—teach advanced upadesha only to qualified, morally disciplined recipients.