Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

तस्मात्कार्या हरेर्भक्तिः स्वर्धमस्याविरोधिनी । सदाचारविहीनानां धर्मा अप्यसुखप्रदाः ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmātkāryā harerbhaktiḥ svardhamasyāvirodhinī | sadācāravihīnānāṃ dharmā apyasukhapradāḥ || 155 ||

Translation

因此，对诃利（Hari）的奉爱（bhakti）应当修持得不违背自身的本分（svadharma）。缺乏善行（sadācāra）的人，纵然行诸宗教义务，也会招致不乐与苦恼。

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverb) ‘therefore/from that’

• kāryā: to be done/should be performed
• kāryā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sva-dharmasya: of one's own duty
• sva-dharmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य धर्मः)

• a-virodhinī: not opposed (to)
• a-virodhinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + virodhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (non-opposing); भक्ति-विशेषण

• sat-ācāra-vihīnānām: of those devoid of good conduct
• sat-ācāra-vihīnānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सदाचारात् विहीनाः = devoid of good conduct)

• dharmāḥ: duties/rites
• dharmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha-bhāva (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• a-sukha-pradāḥ: giving unhappiness
• a-sukha-pradāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (असुखं प्रददाति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual progress comes from Hari-bhakti practiced with integrity and right conduct; mere outward religiosity without sadācāra can turn dharma into a source of distress.

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

It frames bhakti as the central practice, but insists it be lived harmoniously with one’s svadharma—devotion is not an excuse to abandon ethical duties, but should refine and uplift them.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma-application through sadācāra—correct conduct and disciplined life as the foundation for any ritual or observance.