Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas

Devanagari script

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यत्नाद्धर्म्मं समाचरेत् । अस्वर्ग्यं लोकविद्विष्टं धर्म्यमप्याचरेन्नतु ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇā manasā vācā yatnāddharmmaṃ samācaret | asvargyaṃ lokavidviṣṭaṃ dharmyamapyācarennatu || 12 ||

Translation

以身业、意业与语业，当勤勉修行正法；然即便貌似“合乎义”，若不导向天界且为世人所憎（违背公认道德秩序），亦不应行之。

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्नात्: with effort
• यत्नात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative used adverbially ‘with effort/from effort’

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अस्वर्ग्यम्: not leading to heaven
• अस्वर्ग्यम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्वर्ग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थक विशेषण

• लोकविद्विष्टम्: hated by the world/people
• लोकविद्विष्टम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-विद्विष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + विद्विष्ट)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘hated’; तत्पुरुषः (लोकेन विद्विष्टम् = hated by people)

• धर्म्यम्: even if (seemingly) righteous
• धर्म्यम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘in accordance with dharma’

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle ‘even/also’

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• तु: however
• तु: विरोध (Adversative/विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात ‘but/however’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

FAQs

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

It defines dharma as an integrated discipline of deed, thought, and speech, and warns that apparent ‘piety’ is not true dharma if it yields no spiritual merit and breaks the moral order recognized by the wise and society.

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

Bhakti rests on purity of mind, speech, and action; this verse supports devotional life by insisting that one’s conduct must be genuinely dharmic—avoiding hypocritical or disruptive practices that undermine inner sincerity and social harmony.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes śīla/sadācāra (right conduct) and disciplined use of vāk (speech), aligning with the practical spirit of Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā—using correct, restrained language and intentional action as supports for dharma.