Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

क्रोधमूलो मनस्तापः क्रोधः संसारबन्धनम् । धर्मक्षयकरः क्रोधस्तस्मात्तं परिवर्जयेत् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

krodhamūlo manastāpaḥ krodhaḥ saṃsārabandhanam | dharmakṣayakaraḥ krodhastasmāttaṃ parivarjayet || 55 ||

Translation

心中煎恼以嗔怒为根；嗔怒本身即是系缚轮回（saṃsāra）之绳。嗔怒损坏正法；故当彻底舍离。

Word by Word

• क्रोधमूलः: having anger as its root
• क्रोधमूलः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्रोधः मूलम् यस्य/क्रोध-मूलः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मनस्तापः: mental torment
• मनस्तापः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मनसः तापः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• संसारबन्धनम्: bondage of saṃsāra
• संसारबन्धनम्: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संसारस्य बन्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate noun)

• धर्मक्षयकरः: causing the decline of dharma
• धर्मक्षयकरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + क्षय + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य क्षयः करोति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत्; हेत्वर्थे (therefore)

• तम्: it (anger)
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• परिवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• परिवर्जयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; should avoid

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Upadesha dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It identifies anger (krodha) as the direct cause of inner suffering and as a chain that keeps one bound to saṃsāra; abandoning anger is presented as essential for protecting dharma and moving toward liberation.

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

Bhakti requires purity of heart and steadiness of mind; anger disrupts remembrance and reverence, damages righteous conduct, and thus becomes an obstacle to sustained devotion and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it emphasizes sadācāra (ethical discipline) as the practical foundation that supports mantra, ritual performance, and any Vedic study.