Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

दंभाचारो वृथामुंडी ह्यन्यस्त्रीधनतत्परः । विष्णुभक्तिविहीनश्च शिवभक्तिपराड्मुखः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

daṃbhācāro vṛthāmuṃḍī hyanyastrīdhanatatparaḥ | viṣṇubhaktivihīnaśca śivabhaktiparāḍmukhaḥ || 15 ||

Translation

其行虚伪；徒然剃首以作姿态；贪恋他人之妻与财；既无对毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）之奉爱（bhakti），亦背离对湿婆（Śiva）之奉爱。

Word by Word

• daṃbha-ācāraḥ: one of hypocritical conduct
• daṃbha-ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃbha (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (daṃbhena ācāraḥ / daṃbhasya ācāraḥ = hypocritical conduct)

• vṛthā-muṃḍī: one who is shaven-headed in vain
• vṛthā-muṃḍī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय) + muṃḍin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभावः (vṛthā-muṃḍī = one who shaves his head in vain/without cause)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• anya-strī-dhana-tatparaḥ: intent on others' women and wealth
• anya-strī-dhana-tatparaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (anya-strī-dhane tatparaḥ = intent on another man's wife/wealth); विशेषणम्

• viṣṇu-bhakti-vihīnaḥ: devoid of devotion to Vishnu
• viṣṇu-bhakti-vihīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (viṣṇu-bhaktiyā vihīnaḥ); विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śiva-bhakti-parāṅmukhaḥ: turned away from devotion to Shiva
• śiva-bhakti-parāṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + parāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śiva-bhakteḥ parāṅmukhaḥ = turned away from devotion to Śiva); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue with Sanatkumara and the Kumaras context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It condemns outward religiosity without inner transformation, declaring that hypocrisy, lust, and greed negate genuine spiritual life and estrange one from true devotion.

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

It implies bhakti must be authentic and ethical: devotion to Vishnu (and reverence for Shiva) cannot coexist with exploitative desires for others’ wealth and relationships or with mere external signs of renunciation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is dharmic discipline (sadachara)—controlling senses and rejecting hypocrisy—without which mantra, ritual, or external marks are fruitless.